ADC, Obi Face Ideological Clash Over Fuel Subsidy — Abdullahi

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has acknowledged an emerging ideological disagreement within the opposition camp over the controversial issue of petrol subsidy ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the disagreement could become a major factor in determining the shape of any opposition coalition.

Speaking on TVC News’ Beyond the Headlines on Tuesday, Abdullahi said the ADC was firmly committed to subsidising petrol for Nigerians, while Peter Obi, who is expected to play a major role in the opposition, had maintained that he does not support a return to subsidy.

“For us in the African Democratic Congress, we believe that Nigerians deserve subsidy. We believe that wealth must be made cheaper for Nigerians,” he said.

Abdullahi said the difference was not merely political but ideological, particularly in determining how a future opposition government would manage the economy.

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He noted that the ADC’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, was proposing a production-focused subsidy model aimed at reducing the cost of crude supplied to domestic refineries and, ultimately, lowering petrol prices.

Obi, Abdullahi pointed out, had taken a different position on the subsidy question.

“So you see, this is a fundamental ideological conflict that needs to be resolved,” he said.

According to him, any agreement between opposition parties would have to take account of the fundamental differences in economic policies.

Abdullahi nevertheless said the ADC remained open to discussions with other opposition parties and would participate in efforts to find common ground.

The subsidy debate has emerged as one of the early defining economic issues of the 2027 election, following the Tinubu administration’s decision to end the previous petrol subsidy regime.

The government has defended the policy as necessary to prevent fiscal collapse and create additional resources for the government, while opposition figures have argued that the policy has contributed to increased hardship and a sharp rise in living costs.

Abdullahi said the ADC believed Nigerians had “suffered enough” and should be offered cheaper petrol under a new subsidy arrangement.

He also rejected suggestions that the party was simply seeking to revive the old subsidy system, which was widely criticised over alleged corruption and inefficiency.

“This is not about going back to the old subsidy regime,” he said, insisting that the ADC’s proposal was fundamentally different from the previous model.