Peter Obi Makes U-Turn On Petrol Subsidy 

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has stated that his administration will restore the petroleum subsidy after successfully tackling systemic corruption across the country.

Obi made the statement on Monday during a town hall event organized for the Obi/Kwankwaso presidential ticket in Sokoto State.

The remarks represent a shift from the former Anambra State Governor’s previous stance in August, when he strongly supported ending fuel subsidies.

Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) 2026 conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Obi had maintained that mismanaging subsidy proceeds was not a valid reason to retain the policy.

“I subscribe and maintain that you need to remove subsidy. Mismanagement of the proceeds shouldn’t be the reason for not removing it,” he had stated.

However, addressing the Sokoto gathering, Obi argued that corruption, rather than the subsidy itself, remains the core economic challenge facing the nation.

“People are talking about subsidy, but what is all about it is corruption. By removing the corruption, I assure you that we will bring back subsidy,” Obi said. “The problem of Nigeria is corruption; as such, if elected, we will stop all forms of corruption in every sector of the country.”

Urging voters to support NDC candidates across all elective positions in the 2027 general elections, Obi described the upcoming poll as a collective opportunity to overcome Nigeria’s long-standing problems through a commitment to “politics of care and service.”

Highlighting key elements of his campaign platform, Obi identified security, national unity, and education as his main focus areas. “Education is our number one priority after unity and security,” he noted, while also promising to link every state capital via a modernized rail network to drive economic development.

Also addressing the gathering, NDC vice-presidential candidate and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, stated that the team was in Sokoto to engage local stakeholders ahead of the 2027 polls.

Kwankwaso noted that they had met with the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, who offered prayers and goodwill messages for their candidacy.

Kwankwaso highlighted the severe security challenges in the region, noting that the North-West has become particularly vulnerable to banditry and kidnapping, promising that an NDC administration would act decisively to restore safety.

The shift in stance comes amidst a broader political debate on energy policy. Kwankwaso previously disclosed during an Arise News interview that an NDC government would introduce a restructured subsidy model supported by expanded domestic refining capacity.

Similarly, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the African Democratic Party (ADC), pledged to restore petrol subsidies, arguing that the current administration has failed to account for savings from subsidy removal.