The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Presidency over its reaction to the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on his promise to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, urged the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, to tone down his criticism and focus on addressing Nigerians’ concerns rather than trading insults with opposition figures.
The exchange followed Atiku’s pledge to reintroduce the petrol subsidy regime if given the mandate to govern Nigeria in 2027.
Reacting to the proposal, Dare accused the former vice president of political opportunism, arguing that the promise represented a departure from the position attributed to Atiku during the 2023 presidential election.
The presidential aide also described Atiku’s position as hypocritical and suggested that the proposal was an attempt to exploit the economic difficulties facing Nigerians for political advantage.
Dare maintained that the proposal would fail, urging Nigerians to reject what he described as political manipulation.
The ADC, however, dismissed the criticism and challenged the Tinubu administration to explain the benefits Nigerians have derived from the removal of the subsidy.
In a post on X, Abdullahi said the Presidency should avoid personal attacks and concentrate on the substance of the policy debate.
“My brother, Sunny, take it easy. No insults. It’s not enough to throw insults around and gaslight Nigerians.”
He further questioned the government’s handling of the subsidy removal, saying:
“You guys had three years to demonstrate to Nigerians how the removal of the fuel subsidy makes sense.”
The exchange has added another dimension to the emerging economic policy debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with Atiku’s proposal to revisit the fuel subsidy regime likely to remain a major point of contention between the opposition and the Tinubu administration.
While the ADC maintains that its position is aimed at responding to the economic hardship experienced by Nigerians, the Presidency has continued to defend the subsidy removal as part of its broader economic reform programme.
