Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has stated that a Peter Obi-led administration would bring back fuel subsidies in a modified form. In an interview with Arise TV, Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, discussed the fuel subsidy policy of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration and the positions of presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 election.
Both Obi and Kwankwaso have criticised the current administration's handling of fuel pricing and agreed that Nigerians need relief from high pump prices. However, they appear to differ on a key question: whether the subsidy should return. Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate and former Anambra State governor, has consistently defended the removal of fuel subsidy, citing the need for a structured and phased approach.
Obi, in his 2023 manifesto and subsequent interviews, argued that the government should have first tackled corruption and established a transparent pricing framework with operators in the downstream petroleum sector. At the Nigerian Bar Association conference in Port Harcourt in August 2026, Obi rejected calls for a return to the old subsidy regime, saying that mismanagement of the proceeds shouldn't be the reason for not removing it.
In contrast, Kwankwaso believes that an Obi-led government would bring back subsidy, although not in the form previously operated. In an exclusive interview with Arise News, Kwankwaso faulted President Bola Tinubu's decision to remove the subsidy on May 29, 2023, arguing that the policy was implemented without adequate preparations. He suggested that the government should encourage and support the expansion of both private and public refineries to ensure that petroleum products are produced locally and supplied at lower prices.
The comments have raised questions about how the NDC would reconcile the positions of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates. While Obi has maintained that Nigeria should not return to the old subsidy regime, Kwankwaso has openly spoken about bringing subsidy back "in our own way." Economists and analysts have expressed concerns about potential leadership clashes between Obi and Kwankwaso if elected in 2027.
Dr. Samson Simon, Chief Economist of ARKK Economics & Data Limited, noted that Kwankwaso's age and longer experience in politics could create tension with Obi, whom he described as not being primarily a politician but a former bank chairman. Simon advised the two opposition leaders to resolve their differences and agree on common policies before the election.
Nduka Odo, a political analyst and communication expert at Peaceland University, Enugu, said the disagreement between Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso over fuel subsidy shows the need for the opposition ticket to harmonise its economic policies ahead of the 2027 election. Odo emphasised that Obi and Kwankwaso must present Nigerians with a clear and coherent position on fuel subsidy.
Key points
- Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso have expressed differing views on fuel subsidy.
- Obi has consistently defended the removal of fuel subsidy, while Kwankwaso believes that a modified subsidy regime should be introduced.
- The disagreement has raised concerns about potential leadership clashes between Obi and Kwankwaso if elected in 2027.
