A former Osun State lawmaker and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has urged opposition presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to make realistic promises to Nigerians as the 2027 general elections draw closer.

Oyintiloye, who represented the APC in the Osun legislature, said the pledge by Atiku, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, and Obi, the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, to bring back fuel subsidy was not practical. He said it would be nearly impossible to return the country to the era of subsidy and asked how realistic such a plan could be.

He appealed to both men to be truthful and stop deceiving Nigerians, warning that most of their promises amounted to a recipe for public chaos. He also asked them to consider the consequences of whatever they say to win public attention before the polls.

The former lawmaker defended the economic direction of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, noting that the removal of the fuel subsidy and the reforms in the foreign exchange market have brought major fiscal adjustments. He acknowledged, however, that these steps have also put considerable pressure on households and businesses.

Despite that admission, Oyintiloye asked Nigerians to assess the federal government’s reforms objectively, saying he was optimistic they would eventually produce positive results that benefit everyone.

His comments add to a growing exchange between the ruling party and the opposition over economic policy ahead of 2027, with fuel prices and the cost of living expected to dominate the campaign. Neither Atiku nor Obi had publicly responded to his remarks at the time of writing.