2027: Adebayo Fires Back At Atiku Over Fuel Subsidy U-Turn

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has criticised African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar over his recent decision to support the return of fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027.

According to Ireporter Online, Adebayo described Atiku’s latest position as inconsistent with the stance he took during the 2023 presidential election campaign.

Atiku had recently stated that he would restore petrol subsidy if given the mandate to lead the country in 2027, a position that has generated fresh debate among political actors and stakeholders.

Speaking during an interview with News Central on Wednesday, Adebayo argued that Atiku’s current position contradicts his earlier promise to remove the subsidy immediately if elected in 2023.

The SDP candidate recalled that Atiku had previously advocated the removal of subsidy and the sale of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), but has now changed his position after moving to a different political platform.

Adebayo questioned the rationale behind supporting the removal of subsidy when in opposition to its continuation, only to later advocate its restoration after another administration had implemented the policy.

He described the shift as an example of what he considers a lack of consistency among Nigeria’s political leaders.

The SDP candidate also criticised the frequent movement of politicians from one political party to another ahead of the 2027 general elections, arguing that the trend has weakened ideological identity and consistency within Nigerian politics.

Adebayo noted that several politicians who contested against him in the previous presidential election have since moved to other political platforms, with the exception of African Action Congress (AAC) candidate Omoyele Sowore.

He maintained that political parties and candidates should present clear and consistent policies to Nigerians rather than changing their positions based on political circumstances.