The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has rejected a proposal by his African Democratic Congress (ADC) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027.

Obi spoke on Monday at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he defended the removal of the fuel subsidy but criticised the government’s handling of the savings generated from the policy.

According to Obi, the failure of successive governments to properly manage the savings from subsidy removal should not be used as a reason to reverse the policy.

He argued that rather than returning to fuel subsidy, the government should ensure that the resources saved from its removal are properly managed and channelled towards improving the lives of Nigerians.

Obi’s position differs from Atiku’s proposed approach, as the ADC presidential candidate has advocated the restoration of fuel subsidy as part of his economic plans ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The debate over fuel subsidy remains a major issue in Nigeria, with supporters of its removal citing the high cost of maintaining the scheme, while critics have raised concerns about its impact on the cost of living.