The African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday declared that President Donald Trump of the United States, US, is backing his proposed policy on the restoration of fuel subsidy.


Atiku had pledged to return the subsidy on fuel if elected as the President of Nigeria in 2027.

He made this known in a statement by his spokesman, Phrank Shaibu tagged, ‘Atiku boasts of stakeholders, Trump support on fuel subsidy’.

Parts of the statement read: “This is why my Production Subsidy is about putting money back into people’s pockets. Support what we produce and refine here, increase supply, monitor the price and make sure Nigerians feel the benefit at the pump.

“CORAN is saying support domestic production. America understands the importance of supporting strategic energy production.

“Yet Tinubu attacks relief for ordinary Nigerians while his government understands perfectly well how to grant waivers, incentives and concessions to multinational oil companies and businesses close to his administration.

“So why does intervention suddenly become bad economics when ordinary Nigerians are meant to benefit?”

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has said he is fully aware of the shortcomings of President Bola Tinubu’s administration but would not blame the incumbent if he succeeds him as president in 2027.

Adebayo said he understood the challenges confronting the country and the policies of the Tinubu administration that he considered wrong, insisting that whoever takes over government must accept both its achievements and liabilities.

He made the remarks during an interview on TVC’s Politics On Sunday.

“When I become president by God’s grace, I’m not going to blame President Tinubu. Once I take the oath of office, I am now inheriting everything that the president before me has done,” Adebayo said.

According to him, assuming responsibility for the country’s existing infrastructure and institutions also means accepting the problems inherited from the previous administration.

“Because if I’m going to go and enter a state house that wasn’t built by me, drive on a road that wasn’t built by me, and go and do convocation in universities that were not established by me, it means that the incumbent before me left some assets and if he left some liabilities also, I have to know,” he said.

Adebayo said even though he understands the condition of the Nigerian economy and the challenges facing the country, he’s ready to contest for president.

“Right now, I know the perilous state of the economy. I know the troubled state of affairs in Nigeria,” he said.

He also claimed to understand most of the areas where he believes the Tinubu administration had gone wrong.

“I know 99% of what President Tinubu is doing wrong. I know them, and I’m still hellbent on running for the office,” Adebayo said.

The SDP candidate said his approach to governance would be based on continuity rather than spending time assigning blame to his predecessor.

“So I don’t get in there and start blaming him after that. I know everything that is wrong with the government, and there’s a system of handover. So there’s a continuity in government,” he said.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dismissed reports that it is without governorship candidates in 12 states, describing the claim as false propaganda intended to undermine the party’s growing political influence.

The party said it has duly nominated candidates for governorship elections in all 28 states where the polls will be held in 2027.

The NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, made the position known in a statement, accusing those behind the report of deliberately misleading Nigerians about the party’s preparedness for the elections.

Director said the NDC was not a regional political platform, but a national movement with structures, candidates and supporters across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

To disprove the report, the party published the names of its candidates in the 12 states mentioned in the alleged propaganda.

They include Senator Kabiru Marafa in Zamfara; Rtd Rear Admiral Ibrahim Sanusi Kasim in Borno; Hon. John Odey in Cross River; Babanta Michael Okon in Akwa Ibom; Nwofe Boniface in Ebonyi; and Yakubu Solomon Ndam in Plateau.

Others are Ilu-Barde Aliyu in Katsina; Alhaji Umar Usman Besse in Kebbi; Jonga Yahaya Gabakau in Yobe; Dutse Aminu Sani in Jigawa; Prof. Yahaya Mohammed Sani in Taraba; and Abdu Sidi Bomi in Niger.

The party said the list was released to set the record straight and counter what it described as a deliberate attempt to create the impression that it was not adequately prepared for the 2027 elections.

It also urged media organisations, journalists, bloggers and content creators to verify information before publishing, warning that the circulation of unverified claims could erode public confidence in the media and the democratic process.

The NDC said it would remain focused on issue-based politics and would not allow what it described as sponsored falsehoods to distract it from its political agenda.

The statement read: “The Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC has been shocked to discover a false story and deliberate propaganda circulating in sections of the media and on social media claiming that the NDC does not have governorship candidates in 12 states ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We state categorically that this claim is false, malicious, a lie from the pit of hell, and intended to mislead Nigerians and undermine the growing momentum of the NDC nationwide. For the avoidance of doubt, the NDC has duly nominated and has governorship candidates in all the 28 states where governorship elections will take place in 2027.

“Our party is fully prepared, fully structured, and fully on ground in every state of the federation. The NDC is not a regional party. We are a national movement with candidates, structures, and supporters in all 36 states and the FCT.”

The party further urged journalists and other media practitioners to scrutinise their sources before publishing reports about its activities.

“We urge media houses, journalists, bloggers, and content creators to scrutinize their sources and verify information before publishing. Journalism thrives on truth, not rumors. Peddling unverified propaganda only erodes public trust in the media and in our democracy.

“The NDC remains committed to issue-based politics. We will not be distracted by sponsored falsehoods.”

The party also sought to position itself as an alternative to the existing political establishment, arguing that Nigerians were tired of what it called the “old order” and “recycled failures.”

It said its candidates, manifesto and commitment to security, jobs and accountability made it the preferred platform to “salvage Nigeria” in 2027.

“Nigerians are tired of the old order. They are tired of recycled failures. The NDC is the preferred party to salvage Nigeria. With credible candidates, a clear manifesto, and a commitment to security, jobs, and accountability, we are ready to rescue and rebuild this nation in 2027.

“We call on all Nigerians to join the movement. The rescue mission has started.”