Peter Obi: I’ll Be in Charge If Elected President, Unlike Buhari

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has said he would exercise direct control over his administration if elected president in the 2027 general election.

Obi made the statement while discussing the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari and what he described as its failure to effectively tackle corruption.

Speaking in an interview with the BBC, the former Anambra State governor said Buhari was not sufficiently in control of his government.

“He was not in charge. The difference is that I would be in charge,” Obi said.

Obi, who was formally adopted as the NDC presidential candidate in May, has positioned his campaign around accountable governance and economic reforms. The party is preparing its campaign structure ahead of the 2027 election.

The NDC candidate also said corruption remains a major problem in Nigeria and pledged to confront it if elected.

He linked the issue to the management of the petrol subsidy, arguing that corruption rather than the subsidy itself was the central problem.

“From day one, I talked about subsidy. Corruption is the problem with subsidy. I will remove the corruption and return the subsidy,” Obi said.

He further stated that he would restore the fuel subsidy under his administration while attempting to eliminate the practices he believes allowed corruption to thrive within the system.

“If I win, I’ll bring back the fuel subsidy and remove the corruption,” he said.

The position represents a significant point in the current 2027 debate over petrol subsidy policy, with presidential contenders offering different proposals on whether and how government should support fuel prices. Recent NDC statements had previously stressed transparent management of subsidy-related funds rather than returning to the old system.

Obi’s comments come as political parties and presidential candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 election. He formally launched his campaign in August, presenting an economic agenda focused on moving Nigeria from consumption towards production.