Former Rivers State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has said the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would restore electricity subsidy if elected President in 2027, arguing that the current tariff regime has placed an excessive burden on Nigerians.

Amaechi spoke on Thursday during ward visits across Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he conveyed Atiku’s campaign message to residents and criticised the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Using his own electricity bill as an example, Amaechi said the amount he pays monthly had risen from about ₦500,000 to ₦4 million, which he attributed to changes in the electricity subsidy and tariff structure.

“My house electricity bill was ₦500,000; now I pay ₦4 million. Atiku said if he comes, I will go back to ₦500,000. No more Band A and B because government will subsidise it,” he said.

Amaechi argued that the burden of higher electricity tariffs has compounded the economic pressures already facing households and businesses.

Nigeria’s electricity tariff regime is structured into service bands, with Band A customers expected to receive at least 20 hours of electricity supply daily and charged higher tariffs than customers in lower service bands.

The former governor also criticised the removal of petrol subsidy by the Tinubu administration, alleging that the policy had triggered sharp increases in transportation and food costs.

“He just held microphone and didn’t care. He just said remove subsidy. Since he removed subsidy, transportation increased, food prices increased — tomatoes, corn, everything,” Amaechi said.

He further linked the rising cost of food to insecurity, saying many farmers were unable to access their farms safely, thereby reducing agricultural production and putting further pressure on food prices.

“Insecurity also increased. You no even fit go farm, and government doesn’t care. Atiku said he will bring back subsidy. If Atiku brings back subsidy, everything will come down,” he said.

Amaechi maintained that restoring subsidies in critical sectors would help reduce the cost of living and provide relief to Nigerians already struggling with high transportation, electricity and food costs.

His comments come amid continuing debate over the sustainability of electricity subsidies and the wider consequences of the Federal Government’s market-oriented reforms.

The Federal Government has indicated that it intends to gradually phase out electricity subsidy payments, with the power authorities arguing that the current system places a heavy financial burden on government finances.

The government has also said it spent about ₦3.14 trillion on electricity subsidies between June 2023 and December 2025 to cushion consumers from the full cost of power.

Power sector authorities have maintained that the differentiated tariff structure is designed to ensure that customers receiving longer hours of electricity supply pay higher rates, while those receiving fewer hours remain on lower tariffs.

Amaechi’s comments, however, reflect the ADC’s broader campaign argument that the current subsidy-removal policies have worsened hardship and that a future Atiku administration would reintroduce targeted government support in areas where it believes Nigerians need relief.

The remarks also add to the growing political debate over subsidy policy ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition figures increasingly making the cost of fuel, electricity, transportation and food central issues in their campaigns.

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