Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has said he will restore petrol subsidy if elected president in the 2027 general election, after addressing corruption in the system.
Obi made the statement on Monday at a town hall meeting organised for the Obi-Kwankwaso presidential ticket in Sokoto.
He identified corruption as a major challenge facing Nigeria and said his administration would tackle it across all sectors before restoring the subsidy.
“People are talking about subsidy, but what it is all about is corruption. By removing the corruption, I assure you that we will bring back subsidy,” Obi said.
The position marks a change from his earlier comments on petrol subsidy. In August, Obi said the removal of the subsidy was necessary and argued that alleged mismanagement of the savings from the policy should not be used as a reason to reverse it.
At the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Obi said the gains from subsidy removal should be properly managed rather than returning to the previous arrangement.
His latest statement comes amid continued debate among political figures over the future of petrol subsidy ahead of the 2027 election.
Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NDC vice-presidential candidate, had also said the party would consider reintroducing subsidy in a different form if elected. He said the approach would include measures to increase domestic refining capacity.
At the Sokoto meeting, Obi also outlined other priorities for his proposed administration, including security, education and infrastructure.
He said education would be his top priority after national unity and security, while promising to connect state capitals by rail to improve economic activity and movement across the country.
Kwankwaso said the visit was intended to engage residents of Sokoto and seek their support ahead of the 2027 election.
He also highlighted insecurity in the North-West, particularly banditry and kidnapping, and said an NDC administration would work to address the challenges.
Obi and Kwankwaso also visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, during their visit to the state.
The debate over petrol subsidy intensified after President Bola Tinubu ended the subsidy regime in May 2023. Since then, political parties and presidential candidates have put forward different proposals on how to manage fuel prices and cushion the impact of higher petrol costs on Nigerians.
