The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has criticised the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, following his remarks against the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The controversy followed Atiku’s pledge to restore the petrol subsidy if elected president in the 2027 general election.
Dare had accused the former vice president of political opportunism, arguing that the proposal contradicted the position Atiku held during the 2023 presidential election.
The presidential aide further described Atiku’s position as an insult to Nigerians and argued that the proposed return of the subsidy was a “desperate gambit” that would fail.
Reacting in a statement posted on X, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, urged the presidency to focus on addressing the concerns of Nigerians rather than attacking the opposition.
He said the political debate should be centred on policies and solutions capable of improving the lives of citizens.
Abdullahi said, “My brother, Sunny, take am easy o. It’s not enough to throw insults around and gaslight Nigerians.
“You guys had three years to demonstrate to Nigerians how the removal of the fuel subsidy makes sense.”
Atiku had earlier pledged to reinstate the fuel subsidy regime if elected president in 2027, arguing that the policy would be part of efforts to ease economic hardship facing Nigerians.
The exchange has added to the growing political debate over fuel subsidy policy, with the ADC defending Atiku’s proposal and the presidency questioning its consistency with his previous position.
