The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, has said the controversy over fuel subsidy removal or restoration alone may not determine which candidate can manage Nigeria’s economy better in the 2027 presidential election.
Amadi, however, said the fuel subsidy debate could become a major campaign issue in 2027, unlike the 2023 election when it did not significantly influence voters.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Wednesday, Amadi noted that the economic merits of fuel subsidies remain debatable, arguing that while subsidies can be inefficient, they can also serve as fiscal tools for promoting production, consumption and economic development.
He said all the major presidential candidates in the 2023 election supported subsidy removal, although they proposed different approaches to implementing the policy.
“The subsidy issue didn’t register in the last election, but this election is promising to be a major issue,” Amadi said.
According to him, the current cost-of-living crisis could make the issue politically attractive to opposition parties and candidates seeking to challenge the government’s economic policies.
He argued that the manner in which the subsidy was removed, coupled with complementary policies such as currency devaluation, may have worsened the economic hardship experienced by Nigerians.
Amadi also warned that voters would likely assess candidates beyond their position on subsidy, particularly their ability to tackle corruption and control public spending.
“Nigerians will ask if the politicians have the capability to rein in corruption if you keep the subsidy or if you remove it,” he said.
He added that the issue could be politically significant depending on how candidates present it to voters.
“Subsidy alone might not be the key to deciding who will better run the economy, but subsidy could prove to be important in messaging,” Amadi said.
His comments come amid growing debate ahead of the 2027 general elections, with ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar promising to restore the fuel subsidy if elected.
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