Atiku Abubakar Clarifies Energy Policy Ahead of 2027 Elections

On August 25, 2026, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), issued a clarification regarding his energy policy, asserting that he has never proposed reinstating Nigeria's previous fuel import subsidy regime. This statement, made by Phrank Shaibu, Atiku's Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, was a response to comments attributed to Paul Ibe, another aide, suggesting that an Atiku presidency would restore the fuel subsidy temporarily.

Shaibu labeled those remarks as "unauthorised, imprecise and materially misleading." He clarified that Atiku supports a targeted, capped, and independently audited intervention aimed at enhancing domestic refining and production, rather than subsidizing imported fuel. Shaibu contrasted Atiku's approach with President Bola Tinubu's decision to end the fuel subsidy in 2023, which led to significant price increases.

He framed the upcoming 2027 presidential election as a choice between an "Expensive versus Affordable Nigeria," emphasizing Atiku's commitment to reducing production costs and restoring household purchasing power.