The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso has come under scrutiny after the two candidates appeared to offer different positions on the future of fuel subsidy ahead of the 2027 general election.
Kwankwaso, the NDC vice-presidential candidate, recently said an administration led by Obi would reintroduce fuel subsidy in a different form if elected. He argued that government could invest in domestic refining and other measures to reduce petrol prices for Nigerians.
Asked whether the party would restore subsidy, Kwankwaso said, “We are bringing subsidy in our own way,” while explaining that the objective would be to make petrol more affordable through a different approach.
Obi, however, has repeatedly maintained that removing fuel subsidy was necessary, although he has criticised the manner in which President Bola Tinubu’s administration implemented the policy in 2023.
Speaking during an interview with Arise Television in June, Obi said he would have removed the subsidy if elected in 2023 but would have done so gradually and in an organised manner. He also argued that savings from the reform should have been transparently invested in areas such as healthcare and other productive sectors.
The apparent difference has generated questions about how the NDC would approach fuel pricing if Obi and Kwankwaso win the 2027 presidential election. While both men have criticised the impact of high petrol prices on Nigerians, their public descriptions of the role of subsidy appear different.
Kwankwaso’s spokesman, Idris Zekeri, has argued that there is no contradiction, saying the proposed approach would seek to make petrol affordable while tackling corruption associated with the former subsidy regime. The NDC and Obi’s camp have also backed Kwankwaso’s proposal.
The issue is significant because fuel prices affect transportation, food distribution, household expenses and business costs across Nigeria.
Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy on May 29, 2023. The policy has since remained a major point of debate, with political parties offering different proposals on how Nigeria can reduce fuel costs while managing public finances.
