Two voices urge Nigerians to judge 2027 candidates by records, not promises
- A former Atiku youth campaign chief says the fuel subsidy pledge is unrealistic and should be questioned.
- A PANDEF elder says Niger Delta voters should demand environmental cleanup and accountability from candidates.
- Both spoke as fuel prices and the cost of living shape early debate ahead of the 2027 election.
Two public figures from different parts of the country have made the same point ahead of the 2027 general election: Nigerians should test candidates on their records, not on campaign promises.
Odih Rowland, a former Director-General of the Atiku Youth Wing, said voters should look closely at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's pledge to bring back the fuel subsidy. Rowland now heads The Bridge for Renewed Hope, a partner group of the City Boy Movement.
He argued that the promise may sound appealing while fuel prices and the cost of living remain high, but that the real question is whether it can be delivered.
"The critical question is whether Nigerians can trust him to deliver on that promise," Rowland said.
Rowland said his time working with Atiku shaped his doubts, and urged voters to weigh the sustainability of economic proposals and what they mean for ordinary households. He praised President Bola Tinubu's recent fuel discount announcement as a sign of concern for citizens, and asked Nigerians to back the president's re-election in 2027.
Niger Delta elder wants issues, not personalities
In a separate interview with ThisDay, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) made a similar call, but from the region's point of view.
He said candidates should explain what they will do about pollution, unemployment, roads, schools, healthcare and how money meant for the Niger Delta is spent. Voters, he said, must look beyond campaign promises and examine records, policies and capacity to deliver.
Sara-Igbe said the removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to foreign-exchange policy have made life harder, pushing up transport and food costs. He said government should stay open to feedback and adjust measures that are not working, and that any administration should be judged by whether people's living conditions improve.
On the environment, he said cleaning up polluted land and waterways should be treated as an economic investment, not just an obligation. He pointed to the Ogoni cleanup as a lesson, and called for independent monitoring and clear timelines so communities can track progress.
He also said PANDEF's 16-point agenda to the federal government has been largely unimplemented, and asked for a transparent review with responsibilities and deadlines for each item.
What happens next
Both men stopped short of naming a preferred candidate for the Niger Delta or setting out a detailed manifesto. Their message is likely to shape early campaigning: with fuel prices and food costs still biting, promises on subsidy and the economy will face close scrutiny from voters in 2027.
