Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited stations, describing it as a temporary measure that fails to address Nigeria’s rising cost of living.
Atiku spoke on Friday at the inauguration of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, where he accused the Bola Tinubu administration of failing to provide lasting economic relief after nearly four years in office.
He questioned why the government had adopted a temporary fuel discount after previously rejecting his proposal for targeted support to ease fuel costs.
“When I proposed targeted support to ease fuel costs, your government said it could not be done. Now you have embraced principle you mocked. You owe me apology. But more importantly, you owe Nigerians answer: what happens on day 31?” he said.
Atiku argued that the 30-day discount, which prioritises public transport operators, would not provide the lasting relief needed by households, transporters, farmers and businesses.
He advocated a targeted production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerians, saying the intervention should be capped, budgeted and independently audited, with imported products excluded.
The former vice-president recalled that he had offered to share his economic relief plan with the Federal Government during his State of the Nation address on September 18, 2026.
He also called for transparency in the proposed intervention, including public disclosure of its cost and the savings passed on to consumers.
Atiku outlines economic priorities
Beyond fuel prices, Atiku identified food affordability, reliable electricity, job creation, security for roads and farms, and opportunities for young Nigerians as critical areas requiring urgent attention.
He said the ADC campaign would take its message to markets, motor parks, farms, campuses and streets, urging campaign council members to listen to Nigerians and explain the party’s proposed solutions.
Atiku also called on eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate in the 2027 general election, describing the ballot as an instrument for determining whether living costs would become affordable again.
On electoral transparency, he demanded immediate publication of polling-unit results, live broadcasts of state and national collation centres, independent audits of election technology, and penalties for vote suppression and electoral fraud.
He further called for accredited party agents, civil society organisations and election observers to be allowed to verify results independently and operate situation rooms.
The ADC presidential candidate also insisted that opposition parties should be allowed to campaign freely across the country, without designated no-go areas.
“Thirty days cannot erase three and a half years of hardship. Nigerians have heard excuses and endured failed promises. They are ready to judge record,” he said.
Amaechi urges ADC aspirants to unite
Former Rivers State Governor and ADC vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, urged aspirants who contested the party’s primaries to put their disagreements behind them and work towards victory in the 2027 general election.
“If you are still quarrelling about primaries, that one is over. Let us concentrate on the election,” he said.
Amaechi argued that the Federal Government’s announcement of a 30-day petrol discount supported the ADC’s position on the need to address fuel affordability.
He said the party’s economic agenda focused on making essential goods and services, particularly fuel, food and transportation, more affordable and accessible.
He urged party members and campaign council officials to mobilise across the states and work towards securing victory for the ADC.
Atiku will implement LG autonomy, campaign DG says
The Director-General of the ADC/Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Austin Akobundu, said Atiku would implement the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy if elected president in 2027.
Akobundu described his appointment as a responsibility to lead a campaign focused on the daily struggles of Nigerians facing rising food, transport and housing costs.
“This is not ceremonial role. It is call to lead campaign for Nigerians who are asking simple question: How can I afford to live? For parent who must choose between paying school fees and buying food. For worker whose salary disappears into transport and rent,” he said.
He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of asking Nigerians to endure hardship for nearly four years, arguing that families and businesses could not survive on promises of future relief.
“Our campaign will make that reality impossible to ignore. We will take people’s experiences seriously, explain how government’s choices affect daily lives, and offer credible alternative. Atiku Abubakar’s message is clear: Tinubu made life expensive. I will make life affordable again,” he said.
Akobundu said the campaign would prioritise affordable food, lower transport costs, reliable electricity, accessible education, healthcare and employment.
He said Atiku would introduce a targeted, budgeted production subsidy for fuel refined in Nigeria from the first day of his administration, with the aim of strengthening local refining and easing pressure on transport, food and business costs.
According to him, lower fuel and transportation costs would improve access to markets, make food more affordable and enable businesses to expand production and pay workers.
Education, farming and electricity reforms
On education, Akobundu said Atiku would review the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), pursue student debt forgiveness and improve access to education.
He added that the proposed administration would help young Nigerians acquire skills without placing additional financial pressure on their families.
For agriculture, he said farmers needed secure access to their farmlands, affordable financing and reliable routes to markets. He also outlined plans to improve access to credit, reopen land borders for legitimate cross-border trade and support local processing.
On electricity, Akobundu said Atiku would reform the power sector to make electricity more available and affordable.
He further pledged to restore the Eastern maritime port corridor to full operational capacity to reduce freight costs and provide manufacturers with more direct access to global markets.
Campaign DG promises governance reforms
Akobundu said Atiku would implement the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy to ensure that funds allocated to local councils reached them.
He also advocated the devolution of powers and a review of the Exclusive and Concurrent Legislative Lists to give state and local governments greater capacity to address local needs.
“He will address hardship faced by workers forced to choose when to go to work because of exorbitant cost of transportation. He will end haphazard budget implementation that leaves agencies unable to deliver and contractors unpaid,” he said.
Akobundu added that Atiku would overhaul the health sector and establish a transparent financing programme for start-ups and entrepreneurship, particularly for young people and women.
He said delivering the proposed reforms would require political will, experience and the ability to unite different interests, describing Atiku as an experienced administrator and unifying leader.
The campaign DG assured ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark; National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; founding leader, Ralph Nwosu; and members of the party’s National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, Board of Trustees and other campaign bodies of his commitment to working towards victory.
He said the council would work for the election of Atiku and Amaechi on May 29, 2027.
Akobundu also acknowledged the Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, and Chairman of the Campaign Advisory Board, John Oyegun.
He noted the absence of the council’s Deputy Chairman and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, attributing it to actions of the current administration.
He urged party leaders and campaign officials to run an open, inclusive and ideas-driven campaign, promising that the council would operate within the law and defend Nigerians’ right to choose their leaders.
