The All Progressives Congress, APC, has disowned Mr Abayomi Hunye, who claims to be its Ogun governorship candidate for the 2027 election, describing him as an imposter.

The party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said Senator Adeola Olamilekan remains the APC governorship candidate in the state.

“Hunye is not a member of the APC; in good standing, he was suspended from the party on April 7, 2026; he is an imposter currently on suspension,” he said.

He added that Hunye’s suspension was not arbitrary, but followed a petition from his Tube Ward in Ipokia Local Government Area.

Basiru further stated that his suspension was driven by a grassroots decision, executive ratification and formal approval by the party’s State Working Committee.

“His suspension was ratified by the Ogun State Working Committee and communicated to the national headquarters.

“His recent self-declaration as the governorship candidate of our party for the 2027 election is completely false, unauthorised, and a mischievous act aimed at misleading the public,” he said.

Basiru listed the reasons adduced for his suspension to include: engaging in activities injurious to the party’s image, anti-party activities and deliberate actions aimed at causing disaffection and division among loyal members.

“Consequently, he lacks the legal and moral standing to represent the APC in any capacity.

“We reiterate that following the validly conducted primary election of the APC, the duly nominated and elected governorship candidate for the 2027 Ogun State election is Senator Adeola Olamilekan, with his running mate being Balogun Abiodun.

“This is in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026 and the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,” the APC national secretary said.

He said that the names and other particulars of Olamilekan and his running mate, Abiodun, had been successfully uploaded onto INEC’s portal.

The APC national secretary said that the commission had issued official acknowledgement slips confirming the duo as the duly recognised APC candidates for the Ogun 2027 governorship election.

“Any person, group or organisation that associates, collaborates or transacts any political business with Hunye under the guise of the APC does so at their own risk.

“The party will not be held liable for any financial loss, legal disputes or criminal liability that may arise from such dealings,” he said.

Basiru urged party supporters to remain calm, law-abiding and ignore any provocation from detractors aimed at disrupting the peace of the state.

He implored all concerned to contact the APC national secretariat through the office of its national secretary for clarification and official updates.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Federal Government of giving tax incentives and other benefits to oil companies while Nigerians continue to struggle with high petrol prices and the rising cost of living.

Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, made the allegation in a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

He said President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy was inconsistent with the government’s continued use of tax credits, concessions and other incentives to support petroleum investors.

“Nigerians were told there was no alternative and that enduring this pain was the necessary price of economic reform. But when major oil investors knock on Tinubu’s door, the sermon changes,” Atiku said.

He argued that the government’s deep offshore oil and gas incentives allow eligible projects to receive production tax credits of between $3 and $4.50 per barrel, with other incentives potentially increasing the total benefit to $11.50 per barrel in some cases.

“So, what exactly is Tinubu’s objection: government intervention itself, or government intervention for Nigerians?” he asked.

Atiku also questioned the claim that the petrol subsidy had completely ended. He cited NNPC Limited’s audited accounts, which he said recorded about N4.84 trillion in energy-security expenses and related shortfalls in 2023, rising to about N7.13 trillion in 2024.

He said NNPC attributed part of the expenses to the difference between the exchange rate used to determine regulated PMS prices and the rate applicable when import obligations were settled.

“So, where exactly did the subsidy go? If Nigerians were paying market prices because ‘subsidy is gone’, why was the Federation still carrying trillions of naira in under-recovery and energy-security costs?” Atiku asked.

He said the government should not focus on what the payments are called because public funds were still being used to cover the gap between the cost of petrol and its selling price.

Atiku said his proposed economic recovery programme would not bring back the former subsidy system, which he described as open-ended and opaque.

Instead, he said he would introduce a targeted and capped intervention that would be properly budgeted and independently audited. He added that the plan would be linked to local production and supported by efforts to increase refining capacity, improve competition and restore household purchasing power.

“You cannot subsidise capital and criminalise relief for citizens. You cannot offer cushions upstairs and call suffering downstairs reform,” Atiku said.

He also called for more transparency over tax credits, remissions and other incentives given to companies in the petroleum sector, including details of beneficiaries, the revenue involved and the investments delivered in return.

Atiku said Nigerian investors should also have fair and transparent access to similar incentives.

He added that the success of economic reforms should be judged by whether they improve people’s living standards, rather than by how much hardship Nigerians can endure.

Last week, Atiku said he would restore the petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027. Tinubu later criticised the proposal, describing Atiku as “ignorant of governance and the economy.”