2027: Tinubu Campaign DG Yari Fires Back at Atiku, Accuses Him of Misleading Nigerians
2027: Tinubu Campaign DG Yari Fires Back at Atiku, Accuses Him of Misleading Nigerians
By Akin Alade
The political battle ahead of the 2027 presidential election is gathering momentum as the Director-General of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has fired back at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of misleading Nigerians with promises allegedly designed to gain political popularity.
Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State, took aim at Atiku over his position on fuel subsidy, arguing that the former Vice President’s promise to introduce a subsidy intervention if elected is unrealistic and capable of giving Nigerians false expectations.
The development represents another chapter in the growing war of words between Atiku and the Tinubu camp as political heavyweights begin positioning themselves for what could become a fiercely contested 2027 presidential race.
Yari Accuses Atiku of Making Unrealistic Subsidy Promise
Atiku has argued that his proposed subsidy arrangement would be different from the previous system. He has presented it as a targeted and transparently budgeted intervention aimed at supporting domestic production and easing economic pressure on Nigerians.
Yari, however, rejected the proposition and accused the opposition leader of attempting to attract public sympathy with a policy he believes would be difficult to sustain.
According to the APC campaign chief, politicians seeking the presidency must be prepared to tell Nigerians the economic reality rather than make attractive promises simply because millions of citizens are currently struggling with the cost of petrol, transportation, food and other essential commodities.
His response effectively throws the challenge back at Atiku to demonstrate how such an intervention would be funded without returning Nigeria to the huge financial commitments associated with the previous subsidy regime.
Tinubu Campaign Takes Battle to Atiku
Yari’s intervention could also signal the strategy the Tinubu campaign intends to adopt against Atiku and other opposition candidates ahead of 2027.
Rather than allowing opposition attacks against the administration to go unanswered, Tinubu’s campaign machinery appears prepared to challenge their proposals, records and economic arguments.
Yari maintained that the APC would approach the election with facts and figures, highlighting the achievements of the Tinubu administration and presenting its case for another mandate.
The former Zamfara governor also defended the government’s efforts in critical areas including infrastructure and security, expressing confidence in Tinubu’s ability to continue leading Nigeria.
Fuel Subsidy Becomes Major 2027 Political Battleground
Fuel subsidy is increasingly emerging as one of the biggest issues likely to shape the Tinubu-Atiku 2027 political battle.
President Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy shortly after taking office on May 29, 2023. The decision became one of the defining economic policies of his administration.
Although the government has repeatedly defended the reform as necessary to redirect public resources and stabilise the economy, Nigerians have faced significantly higher transportation and living costs in the years following the policy change.
Atiku and other opposition figures have consequently intensified their criticism of the administration’s economic policies.
The former Vice President’s attempt to offer a different subsidy model could therefore resonate with Nigerians looking for relief from economic pressure, making it politically important for the Tinubu campaign to challenge the proposal early.
Yari Says Nigerians Must Not Be Deceived
Yari’s message is essentially that Nigerians should carefully examine campaign promises before accepting them.
His argument is that the country’s economic challenges cannot be solved through populist declarations without clearly explaining their financial implications.
Atiku, however, has maintained that his proposal should not be confused with simply returning Nigeria to the previous subsidy system. His position creates room for a wider national debate over whether targeted government intervention could reduce fuel costs without recreating the weaknesses of the old arrangement.
As the campaign intensifies, both sides will be expected to explain their positions more clearly to Nigerians.
Atiku, Tinubu Political War Intensifies Ahead of 2027
The latest confrontation comes amid increasing political exchanges between Atiku and the Tinubu administration on several national issues.
Atiku has consistently criticised the government’s economic management and other policies, while the Presidency and APC figures have pushed back against his attacks and challenged the practicality of some of his proposals.
Yari’s latest response shows that the battle is gradually moving from occasional political statements into a full-scale contest over policies, performance and public perception.
For Atiku, convincing Nigerians that his alternative economic proposals can deliver relief without creating another financial burden will be crucial.
For Tinubu and the APC, the challenge will be defending the economic reforms of the administration while convincing voters that the sacrifices Nigerians have endured will ultimately produce sustainable growth.
With the 2027 presidential election approaching, the exchanges are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
What is certain is that the battle for public opinion has already begun, and Yari’s latest attack suggests Tinubu’s campaign will not allow Atiku’s promises to go unchallenged.
