The All Progressives Congress, APC, has challenged former Vice President and African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar to present a clear alternative to the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, made the comments while reacting to Atiku’s call on the Federal Government to reduce petrol prices and ease the rising cost of living.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Morka said Atiku should explain to Nigerians how he intends to address the country’s economic challenges rather than asking the Tinubu administration to adopt his proposals.
“The last I checked, the former Vice President is a candidate of a political party for the office of president. He should be telling Nigerians exactly what he plans to do to improve the lives of Nigerians,” Morka said.
He further argued that Atiku had not, in his view, articulated a policy proposal that offered an alternative to the measures being implemented by the Tinubu administration.
Atiku had urged President Tinubu to take steps to reduce petrol prices, arguing that high energy and transportation costs were increasing financial pressure on households, workers and businesses. He also offered to make his policy framework available to the government, saying measures capable of reducing the cost of living should be considered regardless of who proposed them.
“A sensible idea does not become a bad idea because it came from your opponent,” Atiku said.
He also warned against the planned phase-out of electricity subsidies from 2027, arguing that households, small businesses and manufacturers were already facing high electricity, diesel and alternative power costs.
According to Atiku, the experience following the removal of petrol subsidies should not be repeated in the electricity sector.
Morka, however, accused the former Vice President of supporting fuel subsidy removal during the 2023 presidential campaign before criticising the policy after it was implemented by the Tinubu administration.
The APC spokesman also questioned Atiku’s record on the power sector during his tenure as Vice President, arguing that he had an opportunity to address Nigeria’s electricity challenges while in government.
Morka questioned why Atiku was now proposing solutions to problems he alleged were not adequately addressed when the former Vice President was in office.
The exchange comes as economic policy, petrol prices, electricity costs and the broader cost of living remain prominent issues in the political debate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
