By Myke Uzendu
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged Nigerians to vote out the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, citing a reported 570 per cent increase in petrol prices since President Bola Tinubu removed fuel subsidies in May 2023.
The opposition party said the outcome of the recent United States midterm elections, in which the ruling Republican Party suffered major electoral setbacks, demonstrated how economic hardship and the rising cost of living could influence voters’ decisions.
In a statement issued over the weekend and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC urged Nigerians to draw lessons from American voters and hold governments accountable for their economic policies.
The party noted that the US midterm elections were conducted amid rising fuel prices and economic pressures, arguing that voters had used their ballots to express dissatisfaction with the ruling party.
According to the ADC, Nigerians have experienced a significantly higher increase in petrol prices, with the average price rising from N238.11 per litre in May 2023 to N1,596.25 in May 2026, representing an increase of about 570 per cent.
It said the increase had triggered wider economic consequences, affecting transportation costs, food prices and the operations of small businesses.
“The lesson from America is simple: governments must answer to the people for their economic decisions. In January, the cost of living must be at the centre of Nigeria’s democratic choice,” the statement said.
The party argued that the sharp rise in petrol prices had placed additional pressure on households and businesses, making essential goods and services increasingly unaffordable.
“Every Nigerian household is paying the price for the APC and Tinubu’s failed policies,” it added.
The ADC also questioned the benefits of fuel subsidy removal, saying that despite repeated appeals by the government for Nigerians to endure economic sacrifices, ordinary citizens were yet to experience corresponding improvements in their living conditions.
It maintained that the 2027 general elections would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to demand accountability and express their judgment on the government’s economic policies through the ballot.
