Former Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Alex Ter Adum, has dismissed claims that the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, is merely making campaign promises to win public favour, saying the former vice president has a well-developed and documented policy framework.
Ter Adum made this known in an interview with Arise News while responding to criticisms from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political groups that Atiku was making policy pronouncements without a concrete plan.
According to him, Atiku has consistently been among the presidential candidates who prepare and publish detailed manifestos ahead of elections. He recalled that in 2023, Atiku unveiled the “Atiku Plan”, a document of more than 200 pages containing detailed proposals on how his administration would address the country’s challenges.
He, however, noted that lengthy policy documents often receive limited attention from Nigerians, resulting in valuable proposals being left unread. He said Atiku is therefore adopting a different approach ahead of the 2027 election by breaking down his broader policy framework into sector-specific documents that are easier for the public to understand and assess.
Ter Adum also defended Atiku’s position on fuel subsidy, arguing that the proposal was neither unrealistic nor designed merely for political gain.
He explained that subsidies are not inherently wrong, noting that several countries across Europe, America and Africa use various forms of government support to encourage local production and make essential commodities more affordable.
Using Algeria as an example, he said the OPEC member subsidises local refining by making crude oil available to domestic refineries at a relatively low price. As a result, he claimed, petrol sells for about N484 per litre while diesel goes for about N381 per litre.
He explained that Atiku’s proposal is not to return to the previous system of subsidising imported petroleum products, but to redirect government support towards local refining and production.
Ter Adum maintained that Atiku’s policy positions are backed by a structured plan and should therefore be assessed on their substance rather than dismissed as campaign rhetoric.
