The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Felix Morka, has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his call on President Bola Tinubu to reduce petrol prices and ease the rising cost of living.
Morka, who spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, said Atiku had not presented what he described as a clear alternative to the economic policies of the Tinubu administration.
According to him, Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, should explain to Nigerians the policies he intends to implement if elected president.
“The former Vice President is a candidate of a political party for the office of president. He should be telling Nigerians exactly what he plans to do to improve the lives of Nigerians,” Morka said.
He accused Atiku of engaging in political tactics rather than presenting specific policy proposals that could serve as an alternative to the Federal Government’s economic programme.
Atiku had, at a press conference in Abuja, urged President Tinubu to use the remaining months of his administration to reduce petrol prices, arguing that high energy and transportation costs were increasing financial pressure on households, workers and businesses.
The former Vice-President also offered to make his policy framework available to the Federal Government, saying any measure capable of reducing the cost of living should be considered regardless of who proposed it.
“A sensible idea does not become a bad idea because it came from your opponent,” Atiku said.
Atiku also criticised the planned phase-out of electricity subsidies from 2027, warning that households, small businesses and manufacturers were already facing high electricity, diesel and alternative power costs.
He said the Federal Government should avoid repeating what he described as the difficult experience of petrol subsidy removal in the electricity sector.
However, Morka accused Atiku of supporting petrol subsidy removal during the 2023 presidential campaign before criticising the policy after it was implemented by the Tinubu administration.
The APC spokesman also questioned Atiku’s record on the power sector during his tenure as Vice-President, arguing that he had an opportunity to address Nigeria’s electricity challenges while in government.
Morka questioned why Atiku was now proposing solutions to problems he had allegedly failed to resolve while he was in office.
The exchange comes as political parties and presidential hopefuls begin to intensify their policy arguments ahead of the 2027 general elections.