Adebayo Slams Atiku Over Fuel Subsidy U-Turn, Calls Position Inconsistent

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has strongly criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his recent promise to restore fuel subsidy if elected in 2027.

Adebayo accused the African Democratic Congress (ADC) flagbearer of a glaring inconsistency, pointing directly to Atiku’s campaign during the 2023 election cycle.

Speaking during an interview with News Central, Adebayo highlighted the contradiction in Atiku’s stance, noting that the former vice-president had previously campaigned on the promise to remove the subsidy entirely.

“My colleagues are changing parties, changing manifesto. For example, Vice President Atiku Abubakar said four years ago he will remove subsidy on day one and he will sell NNPC. Now four years later, he is in another party saying no, I am going to restore subsidy,” Adebayo remarked.

The SDP candidate described the shift as a contradictory political move, especially since Atiku had previously labelled the subsidy regime as economically unsustainable.

“Something that was in place, you said you will remove it. Now your colleague removed it. Now you say you want to put it back. Inconsistency,” he stated.

Adebayo also used the opportunity to criticise the broader trend of political defections ahead of the 2027 elections, stating that such movements weaken ideological consistency in Nigerian politics.

He noted that most of his former opponents from the last election had switched parties, except for the AAC candidate, Omoyele Sowore.

The criticism comes amid a wider backlash against Atiku’s new position, with the Presidency and other political figures also questioning the clarity and coherence of his subsidy proposal.