Presidential candidates of various political parties have presented contrasting positions on fuel subsidy, policing, insecurity and the funding of proposed reforms at a democracy and governance plenary session held during the 66th Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference 2026.
The candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, said Nigeria must maintain clear ideological differences in its approach to governance.
He opposed the removal of fuel subsidy, questioning who benefits from the subsidy regime and arguing that state governors appear to be among those benefiting from the current system.Sowore also advocated the deployment of technology and intelligence gathering to tackle insecurity, describing terrorism as a major industry in Nigeria.
He supported different forms of policing but stressed the need to strengthen policing systems to effectively address security challenges.African Democratic Congress (ADC) Rotimi Amaechi, urged Nigerians to vote for candidates with the capacity to govern. He said political coalitions should be built around performance rather than political interests.
Amaechi also questioned the destination of funds saved from the removal of fuel subsidy and expressed support for community policing and a balanced policing structure. He maintained that improving the economy would help reduce crime and insecurity.
Peter Obi, representing the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), emphasised background, commitment and character as essential qualities for leadership. He called for unity of purpose among Nigerians to achieve meaningful change.
Obi supported the removal of fuel subsidy but said government must provide alternatives and use the funds to improve the welfare of citizens. He identified primary healthcare as a priority and advocated a policing structure in which different levels of government have defined responsibilities.
He further argued that reducing poverty through the effective use of public funds would help tackle insecurity and improve physical security across the country. According to him, resources must be deployed in an organised and accountable manner.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Adewale Adebayo, said his party was focused on addressing the fundamental objectives of governance. He opposed the removal of fuel subsidy and supported decentralised policing involving both federal and state authorities.
Adebayo also questioned whether some people in government benefit from the worsening insecurity in the country. He warned that continuously retaining the same political leadership could allow terrorism to persist if those benefiting from insecurity remain in positions of authority.
Peoples Redemption Party (PRPpresidential candidate, Donald Duke, identified weak intelligence gathering as one of Nigeria’s major security challenges.
Duke said the country spends more time responding to security threats through reinforcement than investing in intelligence gathering and prevention.
On fuel subsidy, Duke said there was no longer a fuel subsidy in Nigeria, questioning the basis for continuing to describe the current arrangement as such.
The plenary provided an opportunity for the presidential candidates to outline their positions on economic reforms, fuel pricing, security architecture, poverty reduction and the use of public resources to fund governance reforms before legal professionals and other participants at the 66th NBA Annual General Conference 2026.