The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has indicated its willingness to consider restoring fuel subsidy as part of efforts to reduce petrol prices and ease economic hardship if it wins the 2027 presidential election.
The party’s vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, October 15, 2026, saying the party was prepared to explore available options to make fuel more affordable for Nigerians.
Kwankwaso said the NDC had harmonised its position on the contentious policy with its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and party leader, Senator Seriake Dickson.
According to him, the high cost of energy has become a major burden on households and businesses, making it necessary for the next administration to consider measures that could bring down petrol prices.
“Our collective position now is that the price of energy in this country is too high, and our position is we are going to do whatever is necessary to ensure that the price of fuel in this country is taken back, including doing whatever we can, including the subsidy,” Kwankwaso said.
Nigerians Yet to Recover From Subsidy Removal — Kwankwaso
The former Kano State governor criticised the manner in which the petrol subsidy was removed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that Nigerians were still struggling with the economic consequences of the decision.
Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023, declaring that “subsidy is gone”.
The policy was followed by a sharp increase in petrol prices, which contributed to rising transportation costs and higher prices for goods and services across the country.
Kwankwaso argued that the effects of the policy had continued to place pressure on ordinary Nigerians, many of whom were finding it increasingly difficult to meet their daily needs.
“We have seen the implication of removing the subsidy from day one in the country till today. Up till now, I think nobody has recovered from that shock of removing that subsidy on that day,” he said.
He maintained that addressing the cost of energy would be central to the NDC’s proposed economic agenda ahead of the 2027 elections.
NDC Promises to Tackle Corruption in Oil Sector
Kwankwaso also identified corruption in the petroleum industry as an issue that must be addressed in any effort to reduce fuel prices.
He suggested that tackling corrupt practices in the oil sector could help create a more effective approach to making petroleum products affordable.
The NDC vice-presidential candidate said discussions within the party had drawn on the governing experiences of its leading figures, including Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra State and his own administration in Kano.
However, Kwankwaso did not provide a detailed financial framework explaining how a potential subsidy programme would be funded, the amount the government might spend or the specific mechanism through which petrol prices would be reduced.
Those questions are likely to feature prominently as the party develops its economic proposals ahead of the next general election.
Tinubu Administration Has Defended Subsidy Removal
The Federal Government has consistently defended the removal of fuel subsidy, arguing that maintaining the previous arrangement placed an unsustainable burden on public finances.
Officials have also raised concerns about the cost of restoring subsidy, the availability of funds and the potential consequences for government revenue, borrowing and the foreign exchange market.
On October 8, 2026, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, challenged advocates of subsidy restoration to explain how such a policy would be funded sustainably and what petrol prices it would deliver.
Oyedele warned that an unfunded return to subsidy could undermine economic stability and put additional pressure on the naira.
The government’s position contrasts with the NDC’s argument that measures must be taken to reduce the burden of high energy costs on citizens.
The debate therefore centres not only on whether fuel prices should be reduced, but also on the financial implications of the proposed measures and their long-term sustainability.
Obi’s Position on Fuel Subsidy
Kwankwaso’s latest remarks also bring renewed attention to Obi’s position on fuel subsidy.
The former Anambra governor had previously supported the removal of subsidy but criticised the manner in which the Tinubu administration implemented the policy.
Obi has argued that subsidy removal should be accompanied by measures to address corruption, protect vulnerable citizens and ensure that the resulting savings benefit the wider population.
In September 2026, he indicated that his administration would consider restoring subsidy after tackling corruption, a position that has since become part of the broader debate surrounding the NDC’s economic agenda.
Kwankwaso’s latest comments suggest that the party’s leadership is seeking a common position on how to reduce petrol prices while addressing the problems associated with the former subsidy regime.
2027 Election Debate Shifts Towards Cost of Living
The renewed debate over fuel subsidy comes as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
With petrol prices affecting transportation, food distribution, manufacturing and other economic activities, the issue is likely to remain central to discussions about the country’s economic direction.
For the NDC, the challenge will be to translate its promise of cheaper fuel into a clear policy framework that explains how prices would be reduced, how any subsidy would be financed and how corruption and waste would be prevented.
For the Tinubu administration, the challenge remains demonstrating that the economic reforms introduced since 2023 can deliver tangible improvements in household welfare and business conditions.
Ultimately, the debate will require more than promises of lower petrol prices. Nigerians will also need credible explanations of the costs, funding arrangements and expected benefits of the competing proposals.
As the 2027 elections approach, the parties’ approaches to fuel pricing could become an important point of comparison for voters assessing their economic programmes.
