Esther Okereke addresses fuel subsidy and female political support

Dr. Esther Okereke, the presidential candidate for the National Rescue Movement (NRM), has addressed key economic and electoral issues ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. Regarding the petrol subsidy, Okereke stated that the removal is a completed action and that her administration would not reintroduce it. Instead, she emphasized the need for transparency to ensure that savings from the subsidy removal benefit all citizens, particularly at the grassroots level, rather than being lost to corruption.

Okereke also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide financial support to female candidates to mitigate the high costs of campaigning, which she identified as a major barrier to women in politics alongside violence and cultural obstacles. She urged INEC to maintain accountability and ensure that votes count, expressing confidence in the commission’s ability to uphold the rule of law and the dignity of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).