Former ADC Candidates Join APC as Yilwatda Warns Against Fuel Subsidy Return

The All Progressives Congress (APC) welcomed former candidates from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Monday. These candidates had stepped down from State House of Assembly races in the North to join the ruling party.

APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, received the new members. He warned that bringing back the fuel subsidy would hurt the North and stop important projects like roads, gas supply, and fertiliser production.

The group was led by Princess Aslam Aliyu, also known as Gimbiyar Kauran Namoda. Mohammed Hassan, an ADC candidate from Zamfara State, spoke on behalf of the group.

Hassan explained that they are joining the APC for a greater cause. "We are not here merely to change the political platform, but to begin a new chapter of service and make a great contribution to our people by supporting Baba Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in 2027. We have come to work; we have come to contribute," he said.

Yilwatda questioned the opposition's promise to bring back the fuel subsidy. He said, "The Hausa radio stations tell us that they will return the subsidy. I keep asking: How are they going to return the subsidy? Do you mean they will stop all these road constructions because they want to return the subsidy? Because there will be no money for these constructions; all these roads again.

"For example, they will tell you on Hausa radio programmes that Mr President does not like the northern part of Nigeria. Let us ask: Where are the northern Nigerians? Where are you? We are part of the North. They will tell you that he is constructing roads in the South and is not doing anything in the North. The road from Abuja to Kano is 400 kilometres. The road from Kano to Maiduguri is 500 kilometres. The two roads alone are 900, almost 1,000 kilometres."

Yilwatda mentioned ongoing road projects in Northern Nigeria. He pointed to the Abuja-Kano and Kano-Maiduguri roads, as well as roads connecting Jos to Akwanga, Sokoto to Kebbi, Kano to Daura, and Zaria to Danja.

He also talked about projects in Lokoja, Benue, Mokwa, Niger, and Zamfara. He argued that the scale of these projects showed that the Federal Government was not neglecting the North.

The APC chairman also asked how the opposition planned to fund their promise to bring back the fuel subsidy. He questioned if this would lead to stopping current road projects due to lack of funds.

He said, "The gas they are bringing to the North will come with fertiliser, and we in the North need that fertiliser to farm. Do you mean they should stop it? The CNG will come with the gas and make transportation easier for vulnerable people. Should we stop it?

"The beneficiaries of the student loan, most of them are from the North. We have more and more of them in this part of the country. Should we stop it? Should most of our people who cannot afford school fees go back to being wheelbarrow pushers in the villages? The questions are too many. We cannot answer them all here.

"I can also assure you that among the about 30 states that could not pay salaries in Nigeria, all the states in the North could not pay salaries as of 2023, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took over. So, should we say our states should go back again to where they could not pay salaries and gratuities, thereby increasing poverty in the North? These were some of the factors that made poverty prevalent in the North and other parts of Nigeria as well."

Yilwatda assured the new members that they would be fully integrated into the APC. He encouraged them to return to their states and local governments to rally support for the party before the 2027 elections.

He told them to focus on strengthening their polling units. He emphasized that elections are decided at the polling-unit level.

Tinubu ended the fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, which was one of his key campaign promises.

This decision led to a rise in the cost of goods and services, but the APC-led Federal Government insists it has brought economic benefits.

As the 2027 election approaches, Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and former Vice President, has promised to restore the subsidy if elected. He said this would help ease the impact of its removal on Nigerians.