Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has thrown his weight behind the Tinubu Must Go movement, calling for a nationwide push for political change while promising to restore fuel subsidy if given the opportunity to lead Nigeria.
Atiku’s position comes amid growing public frustration over rising fuel prices, the high cost of living, food inflation, unemployment and persistent insecurity under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The former vice president, who is positioning himself for the 2027 presidential election, has repeatedly criticised the government’s economic policies, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy, which contributed to a sharp increase in transportation costs and placed additional pressure on households and businesses.
Atiku’s promise to return fuel subsidy is expected to become a major issue in the debate over Nigeria’s economic future as political parties prepare for the next general election.
The petrol subsidy was removed shortly after Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, when he announced that the subsidy was no longer sustainable. The decision triggered increases in petrol prices, transport fares and the cost of goods and services across the country.
Although the government has defended the policy as necessary to reduce pressure on public finances and free up funds for development, critics argue that Nigerians have suffered because the expected economic benefits have not adequately eased the burden on ordinary citizens.
Atiku has argued that the government must adopt policies that reduce hardship and protect Nigerians from the effects of rising living costs. His pledge to restore fuel subsidy places him among political figures advocating a different approach to managing petrol prices and the wider economy.
However, the details of any proposed subsidy restoration, including its funding, implementation and long term sustainability, remain important questions for voters to consider.
Atiku also endorsed the Tinubu Must Go campaign after meeting Abba Hikima, one of the movement’s conveners, at his residence in Abuja. The endorsement was announced in a statement issued on September 28, 2026, and reported by TheCable the following day.
The movement gained national attention during the June 12, 2026, Democracy Day protests, when demonstrators in Lagos, Abuja and other locations raised concerns about insecurity, economic hardship and the abduction of teachers and schoolchildren in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
Supporters of the campaign have called for changes in government, citing the rising cost of food, fuel and transportation, as well as concerns about kidnappings, unemployment and poverty.
Atiku’s support gives the movement additional political weight as opposition figures seek to turn public dissatisfaction into a broader campaign ahead of the 2027 election.
The former vice president has also criticised the administration’s handling of fuel prices and the wider economy. On October 9, 2026, he challenged Tinubu to step down, arguing that a proposed 30 day petrol discount was inadequate to address the hardship Nigerians had experienced.
Meanwhile, the movement has faced controversy over arrests linked to its activities. In Maiduguri, five men were arrested in September over allegations involving activities connected to Tinubu Must Go T shirts. Atiku’s campaign council condemned the arrests, arguing that Nigerians should be able to express their political views without intimidation.
The Borno State Police Command said the arrests involved allegations including inciting public disturbance, breach of public peace, thuggery and possession of suspected illicit drugs.
With the 2027 presidential election approaching, the Tinubu Must Go campaign and Atiku’s promise to restore fuel subsidy could become significant talking points in the political contest.
For millions of Nigerians struggling with high transport fares, food prices and other living expenses, the central question will be whether the proposed return of fuel subsidy can provide meaningful relief and how such a policy would be financed without creating additional economic problems.
Atiku’s endorsement of the protest movement, combined with his fuel subsidy pledge, signals a renewed effort to challenge Tinubu’s economic policies and present voters with an alternative direction for the country.
