African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi has said he would withdraw from the ticket of ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu if petrol sells for ₦600 per litre.
Amaechi made the statement on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, amid renewed political debate over petrol prices, subsidy policy and the cost of living ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Key Highlights
- Rotimi Amaechi says he would leave Atiku Abubakar’s ticket if petrol falls to ₦600 per litre.
- Amaechi says he would campaign for President Bola Tinubu under that condition.
- He described petrol pricing as a practical test of economic policy.
- Amaechi is Atiku Abubakar’s running mate on the ADC 2027 presidential ticket.
- Atiku has separately pledged to restore a form of petrol subsidy if elected in 2027.
- Petrol prices in parts of Abuja recently reached about ₦1,395–₦1,450 per litre, according to September reports.
- Amaechi said he does not personally oppose Tinubu.
- The comments come amid renewed debate over fuel subsidy, domestic refining and the cost of living.
Amaechi Sets ₦600 Petrol Price Condition
Speaking on Politics Today, Amaechi said a reduction in the price of petrol to ₦600 per litre would lead him to withdraw from Atiku’s presidential ticket and campaign for Tinubu.
“If fuel comes down to N600 tomorrow, I will withdraw as vice president for Atiku and I will campaign for Tinubu,” Amaechi said.
The statement places petrol pricing at the centre of Amaechi’s assessment of the economic policies being pursued by the Federal Government.
Amaechi, Atiku and the Petrol Subsidy Debate
The comment comes amid renewed debate over whether Nigeria should retain the current market-based petrol pricing system or reintroduce government support for fuel prices.
Atiku has repeatedly said he would restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027. In August, he said his position on restoring subsidy had not changed.
More recently, Atiku proposed targeted support for locally refined petroleum products, describing it as a production subsidy designed to provide relief at the pump while placing spending and auditing controls on the intervention.
The proposal has drawn criticism from the APC Presidential Campaign Council, which has asked Atiku to explain its proposed fiscal and operational framework.
Current Petrol Prices Remain Above ₦1,000
Petrol prices remain substantially above the ₦600 figure referenced by Amaechi.
A September survey by Premium Times found petrol selling for between about ₦1,400 and ₦1,450 per litre at some filling stations in Abuja. The report followed an increase in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s gantry price from ₦1,265 to ₦1,350 per litre.
Another report recorded different prices across filling stations, including ₦1,395 at some MRS outlets, ₦1,400 at Mobil and ₦1,430 at some NIPCO outlets.
Prices vary across states, locations and filling stations, meaning there is no single nationwide pump price.
Amaechi Says He Does Not Oppose Tinubu
During the interview, Amaechi also said he does not personally oppose President Tinubu.
“Nobody hates Tinubu. I love Tinubu, he knows,” he said.
However, Amaechi has continued to campaign for the ADC ahead of the 2027 election and has criticised aspects of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy.
Amaechi Raises Concerns Over Electricity Costs
Amaechi also discussed the increase in electricity costs, citing his personal electricity bill as an example of the financial pressure faced by consumers.
He said his electricity bill had increased from about ₦500,000 to ₦4 million and argued that an Atiku-led government would seek to reduce such costs through policies supporting production.
The claims about his electricity bill and the proposed policy direction were made by Amaechi during the interview and represent his account of the situation.
Fuel Price Becomes Major 2027 Campaign Issue
Petrol pricing has become a major issue in the political debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The Tinubu administration removed the petrol subsidy in May 2023, while the government has defended its economic reforms and argued that the previous subsidy regime placed significant pressure on public finances.
Atiku and other opposition figures have instead argued for forms of government intervention aimed at reducing the cost of petrol and easing pressure on households.
The disagreement has increasingly focused on how any proposed subsidy or production-support programme would be funded and implemented.
Amaechi’s Latest Statement Adds to 2027 Fuel Debate
Amaechi’s ₦600 petrol-price statement adds another dimension to the continuing debate over fuel prices and economic policy ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
For now, the statement remains a political position expressed by the ADC vice-presidential candidate rather than a government commitment to a particular petrol price.
