The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, has criticised African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar over his call for President Bola Tinubu to reduce petrol prices and ease the economic burden on Nigerians.

Morka made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, following Atiku’s press conference in Abuja, where the former vice president urged the Federal Government to take measures to reduce fuel prices and address rising living costs.

Morka said Atiku, as a presidential candidate, should explain to Nigerians the policies he intends to implement rather than asking the current administration to adopt his proposals.

He argued that the ADC candidate had not clearly articulated an alternative policy framework to the economic measures being implemented by the Tinubu administration.

Atiku had urged Tinubu to use the remaining period of his administration to reduce petrol prices, saying high energy and transportation costs were adding to the financial pressure on households, workers and businesses.

He also said his policy proposals could be adopted by the government if they would help reduce the cost of living, regardless of who originated them.

On electricity, Atiku opposed the planned removal of subsidies from 2027, arguing that households, small businesses and manufacturers were already facing high electricity, diesel and alternative power costs.

He warned that repeating the experience of petrol subsidy removal in the electricity sector could further increase economic pressure on Nigerians.

Morka, however, questioned Atiku’s record on Nigeria’s power sector, arguing that the former vice president had an opportunity to address the country’s electricity challenges while serving in government.

The APC spokesman also accused Atiku of supporting petrol subsidy removal during the 2023 presidential campaign before later criticising the policy after it was implemented by the Tinubu administration.

Atiku has meanwhile maintained that the government should consider any policy capable of reducing hardship, regardless of its political source, while calling for measures to lower the cost of living.