Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of inconsistency over his proposal to reintroduce government support for petrol prices if elected president in 2027.
Adebayo said Atiku’s latest position on fuel subsidy contradicted the position he canvassed during the 2023 presidential election, when he promised to remove subsidy on his first day in office.
He spoke on Wednesday during an interview with News Central, against the backdrop of renewed debate over the future of petrol pricing and the impact of subsidy removal on Nigerians.
Atiku, who is now the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), recently said he would restore a form of subsidy if elected president, arguing that Nigeria had enough resources to cushion the effect of high fuel prices on citizens.
The proposal has generated debate among political parties and economic commentators, particularly as the cost of petrol and its impact on transportation, food prices and household expenses remain major concerns.
Adebayo, however, questioned the rationale behind Atiku’s change of position.
He said the former vice-president had previously presented subsidy removal as necessary to address economic distortions and improve the efficiency of the petroleum sector.
‘Four years ago, he said he would remove subsidy on day one and sell NNPC. Now, four years later, he is in another party saying, ‘No, I am going to restore subsidy,” Adebayo said.
He described the development as a contradiction, arguing that a policy Atiku once considered unsustainable could not suddenly become desirable simply because the political environment had changed.
‘Something that was in place, you said you will remove it. Now your colleague removed it. Now you say you want to put it back. Inconsistency,’ he said.
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Atiku has, however, sought to distinguish his proposal from the subsidy regime that existed before its removal.
The former vice-president has argued that Nigeria should take advantage of its crude oil resources to reduce the cost of refined petroleum products for citizens.
Rather than sustaining what he described as an inefficient subsidy arrangement, Atiku has advocated policies that would support domestic refining and make petroleum products more affordable.
His position followed growing concerns over the consequences of subsidy removal, including increased transportation costs, higher food prices and pressure on businesses dependent on petrol and diesel.
The subsidy was removed by President Bola Tinubu in May 2023, shortly after he assumed office.
The decision triggered a sharp increase in petrol prices and has remained one of the most contentious economic policies of the administration.
Although the Federal Government has repeatedly defended the policy as necessary to reduce pressure on public finances and redirect resources to development, opposition politicians have continued to demand measures to cushion its impact on Nigerians.
The disagreement between Adebayo and Atiku has added a new dimension to the emerging economic debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Fuel subsidy is expected to feature prominently in the campaigns, with presidential contenders under pressure to explain how they intend to balance fiscal sustainability with the welfare of Nigerians.
For many households, petrol prices have a direct effect on the cost of transportation and food, while businesses also factor energy costs into the prices of goods and services.
Supporters of subsidy argue that government intervention can shield citizens from international oil price volatility and reduce the cost of living.
Opponents, however, contend that the old subsidy system drained public resources, encouraged corruption and disproportionately benefited those who consumed more fuel.
Adebayo said politicians seeking the presidency should be judged by the consistency and sustainability of their economic policies rather than what may be politically convenient at a particular time.
He also questioned whether a government could sustainably finance subsidy payments without creating additional pressure on the nation’s finances.
The SDP candidate’s comments come as opposition parties reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 election and seek to present alternative economic programmes to voters.
The ADC, SDP and other opposition platforms are expected to continue selling their economic propositions to Nigerians as the campaign gathers momentum.
With the cost-of-living crisis likely to remain a major electoral issue, the debate over whether to retain the current petrol pricing regime, reintroduce some form of subsidy or adopt alternative interventions is expected to intensify in the months ahead.
The controversy also places the competing presidential candidates under greater scrutiny over their previous positions on subsidy and their plans for managing the country’s oil resources.