2027: Atiku Pledges to Restore Fuel, Electricity Subsidies, Revive Kolmani Oil Exploration

BAUCHI — Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has promised to restore petroleum and electricity subsidies if elected president in the 2027 general elections.

Atiku made the commitment on Saturday, November 14, during the ADC presidential campaign rally in Bauchi State, where he outlined some of his proposed economic policies and addressed the hardship facing Nigerians.

The former Vice-President also pledged to sustain oil exploration in the Kolmani oil field, located in the Bauchi-Gombe axis, describing the project as an additional source of revenue for the country.

Addressing party supporters at the rally, Atiku said his administration would reintroduce petroleum and electricity subsidies to reduce the economic pressure on households and businesses.

He argued that Nigerians needed relief from the rising cost of living, particularly the increasing expenses associated with transportation, electricity and other essential services.

The ADC presidential candidate maintained that restoring the subsidies would form part of his proposed economic recovery measures to improve the purchasing power of citizens and support struggling businesses.

His latest declaration comes amid continuing national debates over the removal of petrol subsidies and the changes to electricity subsidies.

Atiku also assured the people of Bauchi State that his administration would continue petroleum exploration activities in the Kolmani oil field if he wins the 2027 presidential election.

The project, which straddles Bauchi and Gombe states, has been regarded as an important opportunity for expanding Nigeria’s oil and gas resources beyond the traditional producing regions. However, exploration and development activities surrounding the project have faced delays.

Atiku told the gathering that completing and sustaining the exploration would provide Nigeria with another source of petroleum revenue.

“I also promise that I will continue the exploration of petroleum in Kolmani so that we will have an additional source of revenue,” he said.

Beyond his economic promises, the former Vice-President urged residents of Bauchi State to participate actively in the 2027 elections and ensure that their votes count.

He called on ADC supporters to mobilise voters across the state and remain vigilant throughout the electoral process.

Atiku specifically urged voters to monitor the counting and electronic transmission of results before leaving their polling units.

“I want you to make sure you come out in your thousands, you vote for ADC, you ensure that the votes are counted and you ensure that the results are transmitted before you leave the polling unit,” he told supporters.

He further encouraged voters to pay attention to elections at every level, including the presidential, governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly contests.

Atiku expressed appreciation to the people of Bauchi for their reception, promising to deliver purposeful governance and address the country’s economic challenges if elected president in 2027.

The rally forms part of the ADC’s efforts to mobilise support ahead of the next presidential election.

2027: Atiku Pledges to Restore Fuel, Electricity Subsidies, Revive Kolmani Oil Exploration

‘Control Your Supporters Now!’ – Sheikh Gumi Warns Politicians Ahead of 2027 Elections

ABUJA — Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has warned Nigerian political party leaders against allowing their supporters to unleash violence as preparations gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The cleric urged political leaders across party lines to take responsibility for the conduct of their followers, cautioning that uncontrolled political loyalists could trigger attacks, intimidation, vandalism and unnecessary unrest during electioneering activities.

Gumi delivered the warning in a statement shared on his official social media platform, where he stressed the need for political stakeholders to prioritise peaceful campaigns and democratic engagement.

According to the cleric, violence cannot guarantee electoral victory, warning that politicians who resort to force risk alienating voters rather than winning their support.

“Violence does not translate into votes; it only alienates voters and undermines democracy,” Gumi stated.

He emphasised the importance of political leaders exercising control over their supporters, particularly as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 polls.

The warning comes against the backdrop of concerns about political hostility, intimidation and confrontations among rival supporters during election periods in Nigeria.

Political campaigns have frequently witnessed accusations of attacks, destruction of campaign materials and clashes involving supporters of opposing parties.

Gumi’s intervention adds to growing calls for political leaders, security agencies, electoral authorities and other stakeholders to work towards peaceful political participation.

With the 2027 general elections approaching, the cleric’s message places emphasis on the responsibility of party leaders to discourage violence and ensure that political competition does not degenerate into confrontation.

The central message is clear: political ambition should never come at the expense of human lives, public safety and democratic stability.

‘Control Your Supporters Now!’ – Sheikh Gumi Warns Politicians Ahead of 2027 Elections

Peter Obi, NDC in Fresh Storm as Keyamo Gives Dickson 48 Hours Over Old National Anthem, Raises Secession Alarm

ABUJA, Nigeria — Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to former Bayelsa State Governor and National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, demanding clarification on whether the opposition party officially endorses the singing of Nigeria’s former national anthem.

Keyamo’s demand has intensified the political controversy surrounding the NDC following an incident at the party’s town hall meeting in Oregun, Lagos State, where some participants, including the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, were seen singing the former national anthem, Arise, O Compatriots.

The minister, in a statement posted on his X account on Saturday, November 14, argued that a national anthem represents a country’s history, values and sovereignty and is intended to unite its citizens.

He warned that deliberately adopting an alternative anthem in defiance of the one prescribed by law could amount to laying the foundation for secession.

According to Keyamo, the situation becomes more serious if the leadership of an organisation formally endorses such an action.

He wrote: “A national anthem is one of a country’s national symbols. It represents a country’s history, values and sovereignty. It is meant to unite citizens.

“When a group of people decide to defy it and sing something different from what others are singing as prescribed by law, that group is preparing grounds to break away from the country. It is one of the ingredients of secession.

“And once the leader of such a group endorses the action, it means the group is then officially a secessionist movement.”

Addressing Dickson directly, Keyamo described the former governor as his former classmate and friend, while challenging him to publicly state the NDC’s official position within 48 hours.

He said: “I am therefore officially calling on the original ‘Countryman’, my classmate, my friend and a man of considerable courage from our school days, Senator Seriake Dickson, the official leader of the NDC, to within 48 hours speak up as to whether the NDC officially endorses a proscribed anthem as its own national symbol. The world is waiting.”

The controversy erupted following Thursday’s NDC town hall meeting in Oregun, Lagos, where some attendees sang Arise, O Compatriots, which served as Nigeria’s national anthem between 1978 and 2024.

Obi was among those seen participating in the singing and making the two-finger gesture associated with the NDC.

However, the party’s Lagos State governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, subsequently offered an explanation, describing the singing as a spontaneous reaction by some participants during an emotional moment at the gathering.

Doherty maintained that Nigeria’s current national anthem, Nigeria, We Hail Thee, was also performed at the event, stressing that the country has only one officially recognised national anthem.

The development has reopened debate over the Federal Government’s decision to restore Nigeria’s original national anthem in May 2024.

President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill into law on May 29, 2024, reinstating Nigeria, We Hail Thee, which was first adopted at independence in 1960, and replacing Arise, O Compatriots, which had been in use since 1978.

The restoration generated mixed reactions, with supporters describing it as a return to Nigeria’s historical identity, while critics questioned the government’s priorities amid economic hardship, insecurity and other national challenges.

Keyamo had earlier criticised Obi and other NDC members during an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM on Friday, accusing them of showing disrespect for national symbols, the law and the office of the President.

He also questioned whether individuals seeking to lead the country should participate in actions he considered disrespectful to established national institutions.

The minister further argued that the controversy could affect the NDC’s appeal among moderate voters.

However, in a notable admission during the interview, Keyamo acknowledged that he was unaware of any specific punishment prescribed by law for singing the former national anthem.

“There’s no penalty that is prescribed by law. No penalty. The law just says this is our new national anthem and then you should think we should all abide by it. It becomes a crime when there’s a penalty attached to it,” he said.

His statement has added another dimension to the controversy, particularly regarding the distinction between disobeying an officially adopted national symbol and committing an offence punishable under a specific law.

With the 48-hour deadline issued to Dickson, attention is now focused on whether the NDC leadership will formally respond to Keyamo’s demand and clarify whether the incident at its Lagos gathering represented the party’s official position or merely the spontaneous action of some supporters.

Peter Obi, NDC in Fresh Storm as Keyamo Gives Dickson 48 Hours Over Old National Anthem, Raises Secession Alarm