Former Rivers State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has criticized the electricity tariff regime under the President Bola Tinubu administration, claiming that his monthly electricity bill has risen from N500,000 to N4 million.
Amaechi made the claim on Thursday while addressing residents during ward visits in Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State as part of efforts to canvass support for the ADC ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, the sharp increase in electricity costs has placed additional pressure on consumers and demonstrated the impact of the government’s decision to remove electricity subsidies.
Amaechi said the ADC presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, would restore electricity subsidies if elected president in 2027.
He explained that under an Atiku administration, government would subsidise electricity costs to reduce the financial burden on consumers.
Amaechi said, “My house electricity bill was N500,000; now I pay N4 million. Atiku said if he comes, I will go back to N500,000.”
He also criticised the classification of electricity consumers into different supply bands, arguing that the tariff structure had made electricity increasingly expensive for Nigerians.
The former Rivers governor linked the rising electricity costs to the broader economic difficulties confronting households and businesses across the country.
He further attacked the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy had contributed to increased living costs and worsened economic hardship.
Amaechi’s comments form part of the ADC’s campaign messaging ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the party positioning Atiku as an alternative to the incumbent administration.
Atiku has previously criticised aspects of the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms and promised to review policies that he believes have imposed excessive hardship on Nigerians.
The electricity tariff issue is expected to remain a major campaign subject ahead of the 2027 election, particularly as households and businesses continue to grapple with energy costs.
Amaechi’s claim about his personal electricity bill has not been independently verified in the report, while the proposed restoration of electricity subsidy remains a campaign promise that would depend on the policy decisions of a future administration.
The debate also comes as Nigeria’s electricity sector continues to face challenges involving power generation, distribution, metering, tariff collection and the financial sustainability of the sector.
With political parties already intensifying preparations for 2027, opposition candidates are expected to place the cost of living, electricity, fuel prices, employment and other economic concerns at the centre of their campaigns.
