Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Party (NDP), has publicly disagreed with Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), regarding the proposed restoration of fuel subsidies if elected in 2027. Obi made these remarks during the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he addressed the ongoing debate about the future of fuel subsidies in Nigeria.

Atiku Abubakar, who previously campaigned for the removal of fuel subsidies during the 2023 presidential election, has now indicated his intention to reinstate the subsidy policy if he wins the upcoming election. In contrast, Obi firmly believes that the removal of the subsidy is essential for the country’s economic health. He emphasized that the core issue lies not in the removal itself but in the government's failure to effectively manage and invest the savings generated from this policy.

Obi stated, "I subscribe and I maintain that we need to remove subsidy. Mismanagement of the proceeds should not be the reason for not removing it." He argued that the government should have proactively provided alternatives to mitigate the impact of subsidy removal on the populace while ensuring that the savings were directed towards productive sectors of the economy.

The former governor of Anambra State further criticized the current administration, alleging that the resources recovered from the subsidy removal have been poorly managed. He claimed that these funds are not only being mismanaged but are also subject to theft. "What we have today is that that removal and the attendant resources being recovered is also being mismanaged and stolen," Obi remarked.

Obi also highlighted that he had anticipated the challenges associated with subsidy removal and had included a structured approach to this issue in his manifesto during the 2023 election campaign. He reiterated, "Go to my manifesto, I said it before, I said I will do it in an organised manner and whatever we recover would be invested appropriately."

The removal of the petrol subsidy was announced by President Bola Tinubu on his inauguration day in May 2023, leading to a significant increase in petrol prices and raising concerns over the rising cost of living among Nigerians. While the Federal Government has defended the policy as a necessary measure to alleviate fiscal pressures and redirect public resources, opposition figures, including Obi, continue to criticize its implementation and the management of the resulting savings.