President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has suggested that the 2027 presidential election could be the last opportunity for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to seek the Nigerian presidency.
Bwala, who made the claim in a post on X, said Atiku’s promise to restore the fuel subsidy if elected was influenced by his belief that the 2027 election may represent his final presidential bid.
President Tinubu announced the removal of Nigeria’s petrol subsidy during his inauguration in May 2023, a decision that significantly changed the country’s fuel pricing system and sparked widespread debate.
Atiku, who is expected to contest the 2027 presidential election under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has advocated for the restoration of the subsidy regime, arguing for policies aimed at reducing the impact of fuel costs on Nigerians.
Reacting to the position, Bwala said Atiku was attempting to appeal to voters through what he described as populist rhetoric.
“Since 2027 is likely to be his last chance to seek the office of the president, he decided to gamble on the populist rhetoric of ‘I will bring back the fuel subsidy,’” Bwala wrote.
He added that Atiku may have assumed that there was little to lose by taking the position.
“The only problem is that, to run a populist campaign, you must first ensure that you are popular with the people,” Bwala said.
The comments come amid growing political activity and realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with major political figures positioning themselves and their parties for the presidential contest.
