Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said he would restore the petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, provided the corruption associated with the scheme is eliminated.
Obi made the clarification during an interview with the BBC, explaining that his position on fuel subsidy had been misunderstood because of his emphasis on tackling corruption in the system.
Asked whether he would bring back the subsidy if elected, the former Anambra State governor answered in the affirmative.
“Yes. But remember, I have qualified it, not with the corruption that’s associated with it. I’ll remove the corruption and retain the subsidy,” Obi said.
The statement represents a change from Obi’s position during the 2023 presidential campaign, when he supported the removal of the petrol subsidy and argued that funds saved from the policy should be redirected to sectors such as education, healthcare and infrastructure.
However, Obi has maintained in more recent comments that his concern has always been the corruption surrounding the subsidy system rather than the policy itself. In August 2026, he said mismanagement of funds saved from subsidy removal should not be used as a reason to reverse the policy.
His latest position comes amid renewed political debate over the impact of subsidy removal and the cost of living ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Obi also said during the BBC interview that tackling corruption would begin with the conduct of the president and members of the president’s family, arguing that leadership must set the standard for accountability.
His running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, had previously indicated that an NDC administration would consider reintroducing subsidy in a different form if elected.
