The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) has asked the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to provide details of the legal, fiscal and operational framework for his proposed fuel subsidy.
The council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, made the demand in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, following Abubakar’s recent advocacy for targeted support for locally refined petroleum products.
The council said the proposal raised questions about how government support to domestic refiners would translate into lower petrol prices under the existing petroleum sector framework.
It asked Abubakar to clarify whether refiners receiving the proposed subsidy would be required to sell petrol at prescribed prices and identify the legal basis for imposing such conditions.
“If the answer is yes, he should identify the legal framework under which the government would impose that price condition and explain how it would operate consistently with the Petroleum Industry Act.
“If the answer is no, he should explain how public support to refiners would guarantee lower prices at filling stations.”
The council also asked Abubakar to disclose the projected cost of the proposal, its annual spending ceiling, funding source, volume to be covered and safeguards against diversion, smuggling and fraudulent claims.
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It said any proposal involving preferentially priced crude for domestic refineries could affect revenue accruing to the Federation and should therefore be transparently costed.
The APC-PCC also asked whether amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) would be required to implement the proposed intervention, noting that appropriation alone might not resolve the regulatory issues involved.
The council further asked Abubakar to reconcile his latest position with his previous advocacy for downstream deregulation and the removal of petrol subsidy.
It recalled that Abubakar had described the petrol subsidy system as fraudulent in 2022 and pledged to complete its removal, but later said: “I will restore it!”
The council asked him to explain how the proposed intervention would differ from the former subsidy regime and what measures would be put in place to prevent the abuses associated with subsidy payments.
It noted, however, that Abubakar’s position had been presented by his campaign as a targeted intervention to support domestic production rather than a return to the former import subsidy system.
The APC-PCC said the Tinubu administration had instead focused on expanding compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric mass transit as lower-cost alternatives, citing reductions already recorded on some routes.
According to the council, more than 120,000 vehicles have been converted to CNG, while the Federal Government is working with states and transport stakeholders to expand conversion capacity and supporting infrastructure.
In a statement , President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said: “From Oct. 1, more Nigerians should begin to see measurable reductions in transportation costs,” while urging states to ensure that energy savings translated into lower fares.
The council said every intervention in the downstream sector should be “lawful, transparent, properly costed and capable of delivering measurable benefits to consumers.”
It urged Abubakar to provide Nigerians with a detailed policy document, alongside independent legal and fiscal analyses of the proposal, saying the electorate deserved clarity on its implications ahead of the 2027 election.
