Former Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has accused President Bola Tinubu of channelling funds arising from the removal of petrol subsidy to state governors in exchange for their political support ahead of the 2027 general election.
Melaye made the allegation on Wednesday in a post on X, where he criticised the President’s handling of revenues linked to the subsidy removal policy.
Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy during his inauguration in May 2023 as part of his administration’s economic reforms.
The decision has remained one of the most contentious policies of the administration, particularly because of its impact on petrol prices, transportation costs and the wider cost of living.
Melaye alleged that the President believed transferring more resources to governors would guarantee their electoral support in 2027.
“Bola Tinubu think say he dey smart,” Melaye wrote.
“You took money away from Nigerians in the name of subsidy removal and gave it to the Governors in return for their votes and support.”
The former senator further alleged that the President had now realised that governors might not be capable of delivering the level of electoral support expected from them.
“Now the election is almost here, and you realised that the governors can’t deliver you, and you’ve now come back to ask Nigerians, the same people you took away money from their pockets to go and hold the Governors accountable. Ko le work,” he added.
Melaye did not provide evidence in the post to substantiate his allegation that funds were given to governors specifically in exchange for votes or political backing.
His comments come amid renewed political debate over petrol subsidy removal and the management of revenues accruing to the three tiers of government.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has also criticised the subsidy policy and recently pledged to restore subsidy if elected President in 2027.
That position has triggered fresh arguments over whether subsidy removal should be sustained, modified or reversed as opposition parties intensify their campaigns against the Tinubu administration’s economic record.
Melaye’s intervention adds another political dimension to the debate, shifting attention from the economic consequences of subsidy removal to allegations about how increased public revenues may influence political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections.
