The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has pledged to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, while promising to eliminate the corruption he says has undermined the scheme.
The former Anambra State governor made the declaration during an interview with journalists on Tuesday, marking a shift from his position during the 2023 presidential election, when he supported the removal of petrol subsidy and argued that the funds could be redirected to critical sectors of the economy.
Explaining the change in position, Obi said the subsidy itself was not the fundamental problem, but the corruption surrounding its implementation.
He said a government led by him would retain the subsidy while tackling the corruption and inefficiencies associated with the policy.
Obi also pledged to make the conduct and financial dealings of the president and members of the president’s family a central part of his proposed anti-corruption drive.
The NDC candidate further rejected the possibility of withdrawing from the 2027 presidential race to support another opposition candidate under a proposed consensus arrangement.
He maintained that the focus should instead be on pursuing what he described as the right political approach ahead of the election.
