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

Adebayo made the criticism on Wednesday during an interview with News Central, accusing Atiku of changing his position on petrol subsidy ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has said he would introduce measures to reduce the burden of petrol prices on Nigerians if elected president.

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He has argued that Nigeria has sufficient resources to provide relief for citizens, while explaining that his proposal would involve using the country’s crude oil resources to support domestic refining and reduce the cost of petroleum products.

However, Adebayo said Atiku’s current position was inconsistent with his stance during the 2023 presidential election.

“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 said.

The SDP candidate questioned the rationale behind the change, noting that Atiku had previously described 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,” Adebayo said.

President Bola Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy shortly after assuming office in May 2023. The decision resulted in a significant increase in petrol prices and placed additional economic pressure on households and businesses.

Atiku has, however, maintained that his proposed intervention would not simply mean a return to the previous subsidy regime.

His position is that Nigeria’s crude oil resources could be used to support domestic refining and help lower the cost of petroleum products.

Beyond the subsidy debate, Adebayo also criticised the movement of politicians between political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He argued that frequent defections had weakened ideological consistency in Nigerian politics, with politicians changing parties and, in some cases, changing their policy positions.

“Everybody who ran against me last time, apart from AAC candidate (Omoyele Sowore), has gone to another political party,” Adebayo said.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied reports that it has withdrawn the list of its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, describing the reports as rumours.

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, made the clarification on Tuesday following reports that the ruling party had withdrawn the campaign council list recently released as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.

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Morka, while speaking with TheCable, said there was no basis for the reports, stressing that the party would formally announce any changes to the campaign council list.

“It’s rumour. If there is any change to the list, it will be formally announced,” he said.

The controversy followed reactions to the composition of the campaign council, with some APC members and stakeholders expressing concerns over the inclusion or exclusion of certain party figures.

The development subsequently fuelled speculation that the party could alter the composition of its campaign structure ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

However, Morka’s latest statement indicates that the APC has not officially withdrawn the list.

He further maintained that any adjustment to the campaign council would be communicated through the appropriate channels of the party.

President Bola Tinubu is seeking re-election in the 2027 presidential election, with the APC already putting structures in place ahead of the polls.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called for greater scrutiny of politicians seeking to lead Nigeria in the 2027 general elections, saying the presentation of academic certificates should not be the only consideration when assessing candidates.

The ACF Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Baba, made the call while speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Tuesday.

Baba said Nigerians have the right to examine the educational background, antecedents, integrity and personal history of anyone seeking the country’s highest political office.

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He said the debate over candidates’ academic qualifications should go beyond the presentation of certificates and focus on whether their personal histories are credible, consistent and transparent.

“If you are presenting yourself for election to the highest office in Nigeria, holding lives together, being the Commander-in-Chief, it is legitimate to ask questions,” Baba said.

He added that Nigerians deserve to know the background of those seeking their votes, stressing that leadership requires transparency and accountability.

“The certificate is not as important as the story itself. It has to be straight. It has to be consistent. If it is not, there is a problem,” he said.

Although Baba acknowledged that the 1999 Constitution does not specifically require presidential candidates to present documentary evidence of every stage of their education, he maintained that questions about candidates’ backgrounds should not simply be dismissed.

“The law is clear, but I want to move away from focusing just on the qualification. You see here, we practise a brand of politics that is different from all those countries you listed,” he said.

The ACF spokesman cited China as an example of a system where aspiring leaders undergo years of scrutiny before reaching top leadership positions.

“In China, you cannot just come from nowhere. You start from the very word and you climb. They have a very leadership selection process that you go through many years before you get to that point,” Baba said.

“By the time you get to the point of leadership, everything is known about you. Everything is scrutinised.”

Baba also criticised Nigeria’s political system, saying standards are often compromised because citizens do not demand sufficient accountability from political actors.

“We are simply flexible in our demands for accountability. There are no standards, and there are no standards because we do not demand standards,” he said.

However, he noted that beyond candidates’ certificates and backgrounds, Nigerians are primarily interested in the impact of governance on their everyday lives.

“What matters to them is the effect of good governance,” Baba said.

He explained that voters want leaders capable of improving healthcare, education, housing, transportation and household welfare.

“At the end of the day, what goes into my pocket? How is my family protected? Would my wife go to the hospital and expect service? Would my children receive quality education?” he asked.

Baba therefore urged political actors to embrace transparency ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that Nigerians deserve to know the people seeking their votes.