Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has warned President Bola Tinubu against going ahead with the planned phase-out of electricity subsidies in 2027.
Atiku spoke during a press conference in Abuja on Friday, September 18, 2026, where he addressed the rising cost of living, petrol prices and government palliatives.
He said the Federal Government should not repeat what he described as the mistakes associated with the 2023 petrol subsidy removal by increasing electricity costs without first putting measures in place to protect households and businesses.
“The lesson of petrol must not be repeated with electricity. Do not remove first and think later. Do not impose the pain first and search for palliatives afterwards,” Atiku said.
The former vice president said electricity was already expensive and pointed to small businesses such as barbers, tailors, frozen-food sellers and welders that depend on affordable and reliable power to operate.
He urged Tinubu to use the remaining months of his administration to reduce the burden on Nigerians, while offering to provide his policy framework if it could help lower energy costs. The Federal Government had announced in July that it planned to phase out electricity subsidies from 2027 as part of reforms to address the financial challenges in the power sector.
Atiku also called on the President to reduce the price of petrol, saying he was willing to let the government adopt his proposal and take credit for it.
“Don’t Be Ashamed To Steal My Idea And Take The Credit, you’re free to do what I proposed Just Reduce Fuel Price so People Can pay less”
In his wider proposal, Atiku said a future administration under him would introduce a transparent production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerians, with spending limits, legislative approval and independent audits.
His comments have since generated reactions online.
@BliingzNew: Naso them steal your ideas for refinery and subsidy
@1clickAfrica: I’m wondering is this whole fuel increase not affecting them too or are they not I’m Nigeria?
@naija2capeblog: If the pump price actually comes down, most people at the filling station won’t ask whose idea it was…. Just do it and take the credit. That’s the only part that matters right now.
@JohnEtebom: No hiding place. Atiku is smoking them from all angles.
@omorogiec: We hopefully hope that Mr Bola will take this advice, and not play politics with it like he always does with his usual bag of rice distribution.
@Mansaah_Musa: Omo, this 2027 election go use style tough o
@OilOnMyHead: “A sensible idea doesn’t become a bad idea because it came from your opponent”
@Blaqk101: They all know the kind of games they’re playing, at this point make dem just pity we citizens
@DelegsT: Which idea does this clown have ? Looting the country ?
@kingkhone4real: Whether he reduce the price of fuel or not, we will still vote Atiku. PitObi and Tinubu will be sent back to their villages respectively
@Jacob_Awhen: I like as this Atiku think say him smart, I just dey look am
@Be_curious_now: Uncle, it’s not your idea. It’s Sowore’s Idea. Sowore has been clamoring for No Subsidy Removal since 2023.
@samjohn60512524: This is a pan African president,not that fragile asiwaju
@OilOnMyHead: Lol stray bulIet touch the President, but even Atiku himself dey read the for paper like Nursery school pupil 🤣🤣🤣