“Close Your Mouth”: Amaechi, Sowore, Obi Clash Over Fuel Subsidy in Heated NBA Debate

The 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, turned into a fiery political battleground on Monday as three prominent political figures engaged in a heated exchange over fuel subsidy removal, governance records, and Nigeria’s political future ahead of the 2027 elections. The panel session, which was one of the major highlights of the conference themed “Beyond Limits,” brought together presidential hopefuls including Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Rotimi Amaechi, Vice Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), who offered competing solutions to Nigeria’s worsening economic and governance challenges. What began as a policy debate quickly escalated into shouting matches, personal attacks, and sharp exchanges as the politicians traded barbs over their records in public office.

Omoyele Sowore, the AAC presidential candidate, opened the debate by asserting his long-standing opposition to fuel subsidy removal, accusing past and present leaders of shifting positions at the expense of ordinary Nigerians. “If there’s anyone who has been consistent about non-removal of fuel subsidy, it has been me. And it took Amaechi and his principal almost 10 years to catch up with me. They have now reversed their position on fuel subsidy,” Sowore declared. Sowore challenged the economic justification for the policy, arguing that the real beneficiaries of subsidy removal were political elites and state governors rather than the masses. “The question about subsidy is, who are you subsidising? You are subsidising the elite. You are subsidising the governors. The only people who are doing well since they removed subsidy are the governors of states,” he said. He also rejected the impression that subsidy removal was a new policy, recalling that previous administrations had removed or attempted to remove subsidies while promising Nigerians better economic conditions. “I was a student in 1989, they removed subsidy. In 1990, they removed subsidy. They said Nigeria will be better. We are in 2026, they are still removing subsidy,” Sowore said. Referencing an earlier comment by Amaechi, Sowore noted: “I love one thing that Amaechi said. He said, apart from Sowore and Adebayo, the rest of us have been in government and we have failed. They have no business coming back. You guys should be apologising to the Nigerian people.”

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A visibly frustrated Amaechi quickly interjected, cutting Sowore off mid-sentence to refute the characterization of his remarks. “Stop lying. Stop lying, Sowore. I said, judge us by our achievements,” Amaechi fired back. Unfazed by the interruption, Sowore turned his sights directly to Amaechi’s record as a former governor of Rivers State and former Minister of Transportation. “When it comes to subsidy, right? Transportation policy is important. We have a former governor of Rivers State here, Amaechi, who built a rail line that went nowhere. If that rail line was working, subsidy would have been working for the people of Rivers State,” Sowore argued. Responding, Amaechi defended his record as governor and as former Minister, highlighting his administration’s construction of roads, primary schools, and major rail projects like the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna railways. The ADC vice-presidential candidate quipped: “Where are Rivers lawyers? Let them take Sowore around and show him what I did as a former Governor.” Amaechi asked lawyers from Lagos, Ogun, and Kaduna states to confirm if the railway systems were still working in their states, noting that the Lagos-Ibadan railway was operational during his tenure and questioning why it was not working under President Bola Tinubu. When Sowore interjected again, Amaechi lost his cool and declared: “Moreover, Sowore, when politicians are talking, close your mouth.”

Turning his criticism to Peter Obi, Sowore alleged that Obi had failed to subsidise education during his tenure as Anambra State governor. “Peter Obi did not subsidise education in his state. Lecturers and doctors went on strike for 13 months. You may like him as a person, but he did not perform as a governor. That is the truth,” Amaechi said. Amaechi also argued that transportation policy should form part of the conversation around fuel subsidy, and he defended his own record as Minister of Transportation, saying the Lagos-Ajaokuta railway was operational during his tenure. He also used the opportunity to issue a broader challenge to Nigerians, urging voters to judge politicians by competence rather than ethnic or sectional loyalties. “A coalition should be based on performance. And I speak to you, you should do a referendum. We have all served in government. Atiku has served in government, Peter Obi has served in government, I have served in government and others. Assess us by our last performance and choose,” he said. He warned that Nigeria would continue to struggle with underdevelopment if Nigerians continued to vote along ethnic lines without considering the past performance of candidates. “Don’t just go because you are from Ikwerre or you are from Omoku and choose your own. No! That’s why we are running down,” Amaechi said.

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Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), defended the necessity of removing fuel subsidy, maintaining that while he supports the policy, his administration would have executed it differently to directly benefit citizens. “I subscribe and I maintain that you need to remove subsidy. Mismanagement of the proceeds should not be the reason for not removing it,” Obi said. Obi argued that the problem was not the policy itself but the failure of government to properly utilise the resources saved from it. “What we should have done is that when we remove subsidy, we would have given the people alternative usage for the subsidy. What we have today is that that removal and the attendant resources being recovered are also being mismanaged and stolen,” he said. Citing reported savings of approximately N16 trillion from the subsidy removal, Obi noted that just five per cent of that amount—about N800 billion—could be used to build primary healthcare centres across all 8,809 wards in Nigeria. He also suggested that the savings could have been added to Nigeria’s sovereign wealth fund to generate long-term returns. “If they had saved the money and decided to do like any other country, we would have had $10 billion added to the sovereign wealth fund, which, if you add it today, we will be getting about $10 billion every month, which we can use for a purpose,” Obi said. Obi also emphasised that a Nigerian economy driven by production rather than consumption would work wonders for the country. “Nigeria is poor today because it is not a productive country. Some of us might not be aware that two years ago, Ukraine, which is at war, gave us grain. We are hungry today because Nigeria is not a productive country,” he said.

The drama took an interesting turn when a young lawyer at the conference challenged Amaechi’s reported claim that Sowore could not win a presidential election, arguing that opposition politicians should unite and suggesting that Peter Obi remains the most popular among the contenders. The intervention highlighted the growing appetite among Nigerians for a coalition of opposition forces ahead of the 2027 elections. The NBA conference thus provided one of the earliest major platforms for 2027 presidential hopefuls to publicly test their competing positions on governance, economic management, and accountability, setting the stage for a potentially intense political contest ahead of the general elections. The clash over fuel subsidy—a policy that has significantly impacted the cost of living for millions of Nigerians—remains a central dividing line among the candidates, with Sowore opposing it outright, Obi supporting it but criticising its implementation, and Amaechi arguing for accountability and performance-based governance.

5,000 Zamfara Quran Reciters Hold Special Prayers for Tinubu/Shettima 2027 Re-election

Islamic scholars and students from across Zamfara State gathered in Gusau for a mass Qur’anic recitation and prayer session, seeking divine blessings for President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Senator Abdulaziz Yari ahead of the 2027 general elections.

ZAMFARA STATE, Nigeria – About 5,000 Quranic reciters from across Zamfara State gathered on Sunday in Gusau, the state capital, to offer special prayers for the success of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections. The prayer session, organised by the United Youth Scholars for Preaching and Guidance, drew participants from over 250 Islamic schools across the 14 local government areas of Zamfara State. The event held at Maryam Mohammed Hall in Gusau included mass Qur’anic recitations and special supplications for peace, stability, and political success in Nigeria.

The special prayers were also dedicated to Senator Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, following his recent appointment by President Tinubu as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election. Speaking at the event, the chairman of the association, Mallam Naziru Ibrahim Buda, disclosed that the gathering was aimed at seeking Allah’s blessings for the success of President Tinubu and the APC campaign council led by Senator Yari. He noted that members of the association had resolved to support the Tinubu administration following Yari’s appointment, setting aside any previous grievances. Buda emphasised that the initiative was not a response to current political developments alone, noting that the association has a long-standing tradition of organising Qur’anic recitation and special prayers every two months. However, he added that members had resolved to intensify their prayers for Tinubu and Yari following the appointment.

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The Islamic scholars also highlighted Senator Yari’s philanthropic gestures towards vulnerable people across the state, describing him as a longstanding supporter of Islamic organisations and Qur’anic education initiatives. According to Malam Hadi Suleiman, a former state Director of Tajweed, Yari’s contributions to Qur’anic education include the donation of 70 cars and 70 Hajj seats to competition winners, in addition to his support for orphans and vulnerable people.

Senator Yari, who was represented at the event by Hon. Aminu Adamu Dankwangila, expressed appreciation to the gathering for their support. Dankwangila prayed that President Tinubu, by the grace of Almighty God, would easily return for a second term in office, citing the administration’s efforts to restore peace and change the nation’s economic fortunes. Earlier, Senator Yari, speaking to journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after arriving from an overseas trip, expressed confidence that President Tinubu would secure a second term in office, declaring: “By God’s grace, he shall be the president come 2027”. The former Zamfara governor assured Nigerians that the APC would fulfill the promises it made during the 2023 election campaign.

Buda further disclosed that the group would soon commence grassroots mobilisation across communities, urging members and Islamic schools to continue praying for the success of the campaign council and peace in Zamfara and Nigeria. The association’s vice chairman, Malam Hadi Aminu, also called on Governor Dauda Lawal to appoint Hon. Abdulmalik Zubairu Zannah, who represents Maru/Bungudu Federal Constituency, as head of the state’s campaign team, citing confidence in Yari’s ability to deliver Zamfara for the Tinubu campaign.

Atiku, Obi Make Moves on Campaign Councils as APC Takes Early Lead in 2027 Race

Opposition parties race to complete campaign teams as ruling party takes early lead in presidential race

Political parties and presidential candidates are stepping up preparations for the 2027 general elections, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) moving to finalise their campaign structures as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has already unveiled its 223-member Presidential Campaign Council. The development follows the formal opening of the campaign period by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on August 19, 2026, allowing political parties and candidates to begin their campaigns in line with the electoral timetable. Under the 2026 Electoral Act, campaigns are approved to commence 150 days before Election Day, setting the stage for what promises to be a highly competitive electoral contest.

President Bola Tinubu has constituted the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, appointing former Zamfara State Governor Senator Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as Secretary. The list of members was released on Saturday, August 22, 2026, by the State House. President Tinubu will serve as Chairman of the council, while Vice President Kashim Shettima will be Vice Chairman. APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, will also serve as Vice Chairman. The council includes a body of advisers comprising Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Segun Osoba, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and Senator Florence Ita Giwa. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni have been appointed Deputy Directors-General for the South and North. They will work with Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau in coordinating the two geopolitical blocs. Other key appointments include Adams Oshiomhole as Deputy Director-General in charge of mobilisation, James Abiodun Faleke as Deputy Director-General for Election Planning, Coordination and Monitoring, Muiz Adeyemi Banire, SAN as Director of the Legal Directorate, Mohammed Idris Malagi as Coordinating Director for Media and Strategic Communication, Dele Alake as Lead Spokesperson, and Segun Dada as Director of New Media. President Tinubu charged all council members to work tirelessly to deliver victory for the party in the January 2027 elections, while also encouraging leaders of the various directorates to reach out to other party members who may not have been formally listed to join their efforts.

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While the ruling APC has already announced its campaign council, Atiku Abubakar’s African Democratic Congress (ADC) is still consulting on the composition and leadership of its campaign team. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, had indicated last week that the party was ready to unveil its campaign structure, but the delay has sent some signals. Investigations revealed that an intense debate has been ongoing among the party’s hierarchy on the exact pattern the campaign structure would take. A source stated that while the National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, have had discussions on the way forward, some “i’s and T’s” are still being dotted and crossed. The discussion has reportedly been about mixing things up and introducing new dimensions to the campaign while some insist on including the old regular faces who have always dominated campaigns. One of the issues to be resolved is the geopolitical configuration of the headship of the campaign council, with Atiku from the North-East zone and his running mate, former governor Rotimi Amaechi, from the South-South. Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said Nigerians would be informed once the consultations were concluded, adding that the former vice-president’s campaign council would be announced at the appropriate time, alongside details of the formal campaign launch. Shaibu also disclosed that Atiku’s campaign would have its own fundraising framework, which he said would comply with the law and be transparent, accountable and consistent with applicable campaign-finance regulations. According to him, Atiku’s immediate priority is to engage Nigerians on the issues affecting them and present his proposed alternatives to the policies of the current administration, particularly pointing to Atiku’s support for what he called a targeted fuel subsidy linked to domestic production and aimed at encouraging local refining while reducing the financial burden on Nigerians.

Attention is also turning to the campaign structure of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) , which has Peter Obi as its presidential candidate. The NDC is expected to hold a meeting next weekend to determine the composition of its campaign council and settle on the date and venue for the formal commencement of its campaign. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said some prominent figures were expected to feature in the campaign structure, specifically mentioning Prof Pat Utomi, Buba Galadima and Bishop Idahosa as some of the names expected to be involved. Director said the NDC planned to take its campaign to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, although the party was yet to decide where it would begin, adding that they might even visit some states twice. Meanwhile, Obi has unveiled a region-by-region economic strategy for Nigeria, promising to leverage the comparative advantages of each part of the country to drive production, investment, employment and shared prosperity if elected in 2027. The North-West is positioned to expand agriculture, livestock, irrigation, agro-processing and manufacturing; the North-East will focus on reconstruction, livelihood restoration, agriculture, education, enterprise and regional trade; the North-Central will strengthen food production and processing while developing mineral resources responsibly; the South-West will build on existing strengths in manufacturing, technology, finance, trade and the creative economy; the South-East will leverage entrepreneurial and industrial base through improved infrastructure, stronger connectivity and greater access to investment; the South-South will extract greater value from oil and gas while expanding maritime services, fisheries and agriculture; and the FCT will become a model for efficient urban planning, transportation, housing, sanitation, security and public services. “Every region must produce. Every region must contribute. Every region must benefit,” Obi said. He has also taken his campaign message to Nigerian youths through football, challenging them to channel the same passion they invest in European football into the pursuit of good governance and national development, noting that Nigeria’s challenge is not a lack of talent but the absence of systems that reward merit, invest in infrastructure, ensure security, and promote accountability.

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The Young Progressives Party (YPP) has already fixed a date for the commencement of its presidential campaign, with its candidate, Prof Peter Agada, announcing September 9 as the date for the formal launch of his campaign, with Lagos expected to serve as the starting point before the campaign moves to other parts of the country. Agada emerged as the YPP presidential candidate at the party’s Presidential and Vice-Presidential Substitution/Affirmation Programme, securing 71 votes out of the 83 votes cast, with his running mate being Ndidi Patience Key. Agada said his campaign organisation had been in preparation for months and was not waiting for the official opening of the campaign period to begin its work. He explained that a political structure known as The Movement Nigeria had been established about four months ago and would form a major part of his campaign machinery. After resigning from the Obidient Movement, Agada said many Obidients did not go with Peter Obi but came with him, leading to the establishment of The Movement Nigeria. Agada proposed YPP Deputy National Chairman, Ambassador Nana Aisha Mahmoud, as Director-General of his campaign council, subject to final approval, while also identifying Prof Osaze as the proposed secretary and Evelyn Ohiole as the Director of Media. Agada said his campaign would adopt a nationwide approach, beginning with major locations before expanding into the various geopolitical zones, listing Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and Abuja as some of the first areas of focus. The YPP candidate also said technology would play a major role in his campaign, particularly in demonstrating the party’s proposed approach to governance. “Our party is driven by GPS. It is a GPS governance system. We intend to demonstrate that capability utilising ICT to showcase how government can be run with GPS. So, we are going to deploy it in this campaign to the eyes of everyone,” Agada said. He added that coordinators had already been put in place across states, local government areas and wards.

The unveiling of the APC council has drawn criticism from the NDC vice-presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who asked Yari to reconsider his decision to lead Tinubu’s re-election campaign. Kwankwaso argued that Yari, as a former governor of Zamfara State, was familiar with the security and economic difficulties facing many Nigerians and should consider whether heading the campaign for the continuation of the present administration was consistent with his understanding of those challenges. He also questioned the involvement of senior public officials, including the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, and the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Dr Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, in the campaign’s fundraising and finance structures. Kwankwaso said officials responsible for public revenue and national finances should maintain institutional neutrality and called for clarification on their participation in partisan campaign activities. Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has also threatened to challenge Adedeji’s appointment in court, arguing that his position as head of the country’s revenue-collecting agency could create a conflict of interest, stating that he would test the constitutionality of the appointment in court. Kwankwaso maintained that the strength of any campaign structure would ultimately depend on the electorate, declaring that “no campaign council is more powerful than the Nigerian people.”

The Labour Party, meanwhile, is yet to announce its campaign timetable. Its presidential candidate, Dr Chibuzor Okereke, said the decision would be left to the party’s strategy team, adding that the party had not decided whether its campaign would begin in a state or the FCT. “You will be informed when we unveil it. Be rest assured that we are going to roll out everything once a decision has been taken,” Okereke said. The APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, however, said the ruling party had not fixed the date or venue for the campaign launch, stating that “a date and state for the kick-off can’t be announced until the campaign council meets to discuss it.” As the political landscape continues to evolve, all eyes remain on the various parties as they finalise their strategies and prepare for what promises to be a fiercely contested 2027 presidential election.