Political tensions escalated at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt on Monday as presidential hopefuls traded accusations over governance records, fuel subsidy removal, and competing visions for Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections. The heated exce between Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress and Rotimi Amaechi, vice presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, dominated the political session themed “Beyond Limits.”
Amaechi, representing presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, challenged Nigerians to scrutinize the records of politicians who had previously held public office, arguing that many had failed in government. He criticized Peter Obi’s tenure as Anambra governor and defended his own record as transportation minister, claiming railway projects that operated successfully under his watch had become dysfunctional under President Bola Tinubu. In a direct confrontation, Amaechi dismissed Sowore’s contributions, saying politicians with governing experience should lead the conversation.
Sowore pushed back forcefully, defending his political credentials and accusing Amaechi, Obi, and other politicians of failing Nigerians while supporting harmful policies like fuel subsidy removal. He emphasized his consistent opposition to subsidy removal, stating it took Amaechi and his principal almost 10 years to reverse their position on the issue. Sowore maintained that fresh ideas mattered more than recycled political experience.
Meanwhile, Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of providing tax incentives and benefits to oil companies while Nigerians struggle with rising petrol prices. He questioned whether government intervention itself was the problem or intervention that favored corporations over citizens, citing deep offshore incentives that could total $11.50 per barrel for eligible projects.
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