Amaechi Vows to Dump Atiku, Support Tinubu If Fuel Drops to N600

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Ameachi has said he would withdraw his support for Atiku Abubakar and campaign for President Bola Tinubu if the price of petrol drops to N600 per litre.

Amaechi made the statement on Friday while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, in a fresh comment on the fuel subsidy debate that has become a major issue ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The former Rivers State governor said the price of petrol would be a major test of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies.

He suggested that if the government could bring the pump price down to N600, he would reconsider his position in the opposition ADC.

Amaechi said, “If fuel comes down to N600 tomorrow, I will withdraw as vice president for Atiku and I will campaign for Tinubu.”

He was responding to questions about the possibility of supporting Tinubu despite being the running mate to Atiku, the ADC presidential candidate.

Amaechi also said he believed Tinubu would not rig the 2027 presidential election.

He said, “Tinubu will not rig this election because there might not be a Nigeria if he rigs this election.”

According to him, the level of economic hardship in the country had created frustration among Nigerians.

He added, “Why? Because people are tired, they are hungry.”

Amaechi further stated that his relationship with Tinubu was not based on personal hatred, despite his opposition to the administration and his role in the ADC campaign.

“Nobody hates Tinubu. I love Tinubu, he knows,” he said.

Recall the Tinubu administration removed petrol subsidy on May 29, 2023, shortly after the President assumed office.

The decision resulted in a sharp increase in petrol prices and had wider effects on transportation, food prices and the cost of doing business.

The Federal Government has continued to defend the policy as part of its broader economic reforms.

Tinubu has repeatedly argued that the subsidy had placed a heavy burden on government finances and that the resources could be redirected to other areas of the economy.

Atiku, however, has taken a different position.

The former vice president recently pledged to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027.

He said his proposed intervention would focus on making petroleum products more affordable while supporting domestic refining.

Atiku has also explained that his proposal should not be confused with the old system of subsidising imported petrol.

His campaign has described the plan as a targeted intervention aimed at domestic production.

Amaechi had previously clarified the position of the Atiku-Amaechi ticket on the issue.

In August, he said the plan was to provide cheap crude to local refiners so they could produce and sell petroleum products at lower prices.

He also said the proposed arrangement would support local production rather than return Nigeria to the previous import-dependent subsidy system.

The Presidency had estimated that implementing Atiku’s proposed petrol subsidy could cost the country about N19.1 trillion annually, depending on crude oil prices and other factors.

The figure was presented as part of the government’s argument against returning to a subsidy regime.

Tinubu also addressed the issue during his Independence Day broadcast on Thursday.

The President urged Nigerians not to support politicians promising to bring back petrol subsidy, arguing that such a move could undermine the economic reforms introduced by his administration.

The ADC vice-presidential candidate has in recent days intensified his campaign activities ahead of the 2027 election.

On Wednesday, he told members of the ADC National Women League that the party must strengthen its grassroots mobilisation if it hopes to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He also warned that prominent opposition figures could leave active politics if the APC wins the 2027 election.

On Friday, he arrived in Lafia, Nasarawa State, as part of his campaign activities. He was met by protesters carrying the message, “Tinubu Must Go.”

The development came shortly after Amaechi told ADC supporters that they must take the 2027 campaign to the grassroots and work towards defeating the APC.

In a related development, Amaechi had told ADC leaders in Abuja that they must leave the Federal Capital Territory and return to their states and wards to mobilise voters for the 2027 election.

He said the party would need strong grassroots mobilisation to challenge the APC and urged its members to take the campaign beyond major political gatherings.