The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has said its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will use money saved from the removal of fuel subsidy to improve the welfare of Nigerians if elected in 2027.
The party said the funds would be invested in areas such as healthcare, transport infrastructure, education and job creation instead of being left under the control of state governors.
The NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theo Abu Agada, made this known while responding to renewed debate over fuel subsidy ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Agada said Obi had consistently supported the removal of subsidy and deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector, adding that the major concern was how the money saved from the policy was managed.
His comments followed a proposal by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027.
President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023. The policy has since generated widespread debate over its economic impact on Nigerians.
Agada said Obi would not bring back the subsidy regime or allow political office holders to control the money saved from its removal.
“For Peter Obi and many of us who have, since 2012, advocated for the removal of the subsidy and the deregulation of the downstream sector, the policy position has always been the transparent management of the subsidy regime,” Agada said in a post on X.
He said the funds would instead be used for projects and programmes that could directly improve the lives of Nigerians.
Agada said Obi would not “put the money in the pockets of the governors like Tinubu” or restore the influence of what he described as “oil cabals” that benefited from the former subsidy system.
“We will put the money in the pockets of Nigerians and also channel the funds into building quality healthcare facilities, transport infrastructure, schools, and other programmes that will create jobs for Nigerians,” he said.
Agada also questioned Atiku’s current position on fuel subsidy, recalling that the former vice president had previously supported its removal.
The issue of fuel subsidy has become a major topic ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with presidential candidates proposing different ways of addressing the economic hardship linked to its removal.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, has expressed confidence that Obi could defeat Tinubu and Atiku in the 2027 election.
Amadi made the comment during an interview with Symfoni TV, where he argued that the current political strength of Tinubu and Atiku did not guarantee either of them victory.
He said Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential election, particularly his support among young Nigerians and his performance in several states, showed that a major political realignment was possible.
Amadi also linked Obi’s growing support to the 2020 #EndSARS protests, which he said reflected the desire of many young Nigerians for a different political direction.
“There is this sense that Nigeria needs something new, and the restiveness and disruption during the 2020 EndSARS incident is a milestone for Obi,” he said.
He further claimed that Obi received significant support during the 2023 election, alleging that the former Anambra State governor won in Rivers, Plateau and some northern states but was not declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to Amadi, Obi’s performance in 2023 could remain an important factor in the 2027 election, especially if the demand for political change among voters continues to grow.
