Obi denies Obasanjo funding NDC, clarifies Atiku relationship, unveils economic agenda and 2027 vision 

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has denied that the former president Olusegun Obasanjo is the financier of the NDC. 

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, made the clarification in an interview with Ojy Okpe on Arise Television’s Morning Show, aired on September 10, 2026, monitored by our correspondent.

Responding to a question on whether former President Olusegun Obasanjo was funding the NDC, Obi said he was not aware of such funding.

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“I don’t know who is funding the NDC. I don’t think so. NDC accounting to me is transparent, and I have never seen any credit and any receipt from Obasanjo.”

When asked about the status of the NDC as a political party and whether he was aware that the party was still existing by court order, Obi said: “All this is happening because the government wants to destabilize every opposition party,” he said.

On his relationship with former Vice President Atiku and why he allegedly refused to serve as a vice president to him, Obi said nobody had offered him the position and that he had never refused such an offer.

He also denied ever saying that he could not serve as vice president to anyone, explaining that any such arrangement would require discussions among the political parties and agreement on what was best for the country.

“I am a candidate. My leader, Atiku, is a candidate. Now it’s no longer me or him. It’s a discussion. It’s no longer me Peter talking. It’s not me now. We must be able to talk about things that make meaning. A genuine consensus would be between parties, not me now.”

He said any arrangement would require him to consult his stakeholders, just as Atiku would need to consult his own party and stakeholders, stressing that the decision could not be based solely on his personal position.

Obi noted that the NDC had more than 80 people contesting for Senate seats, more than 20 contesting for governorship positions and others contesting various electoral positions, saying they must all be carried along in any political arrangement.

“I respect the institution that I am coming from. I respect the decision of such an institution. I don’t operate where a leader serves as if he’s accountable to no one. I will make sure every part of the country is involved.”

‘We must agree on what we want Nigeria to be’

Obi said what he was offering Nigerians was responsive leadership rather than merely sharing political positions and resources, noting that his vision was to build a country where opportunities would be available to every Nigerian regardless of background.

“We are talking about the country. We’ll have a country where a child of nobody will be somebody without knowing anybody.”

He said such a country must be founded on unity, law and order, with leaders expected to exemplify the values they want society to uphold.

“We’ll sit down as a country and agree on what we want the country to be.”

Obi said he wanted a coalition capable of making Nigeria work, with priorities including education, job creation, tackling insecurity, educating young people, reducing infant and maternal mortality and creating employment opportunities for youths.

Obi speaks on subsidy removal

On fuel subsidy removal, Obi said the subsidy regime had been affected by corruption and criminality and maintained that any reform must address those issues.

“The subsisdy regime was enmeshed in corruption and criminality. I will remove and fight and remove that corruption and criminality.”

He said there was a need to establish whether subsidy was actually being paid and determine the true level of fuel consumption.

Obi cited Pakistan as an example, saying the country had more vehicles than Nigeria, removed subsidy and subsequently discovered that its actual fuel consumption was lower than previously measured.

He said his administration would supply crude oil to local refineries before addressing the subsidy issue.

Obi proposes agricultural investment

Obi also said his administration would develop Nigeria’s vast uncultivated land, increase agricultural production and provide subsidies and lower interest rates to support productive sectors of the economy.

He cited Indonesia, saying that although its interest rate was about 15 per cent, rates available to small and medium-sized enterprises were significantly lower to encourage productive activity.

Obi argued that Nigeria had continued to borrow heavily despite the removal of fuel subsidy and accused the Tinubu administration of using funds that should have gone into productive infrastructure for consumption and luxury.

“If there is one president the north will celebrate, it’s me. I will deal with the issue of poverty in a non-corrupt way. I will deal with their assets. Well cultivate it. We’ll ensure that we take these poor people, the alamajiri, to education; invest in health and support them.”

He said poverty in northern Nigeria was not caused solely by subsidy removal, arguing that other factors had contributed to the region’s economic difficulties.

Obi blamed the present administration for what he described as reckless management of the country’s resources.

“At times, I believe he is not in charge. If he’s in charge he will be explaining it to the people.”

He said that, if elected president, he would personally communicate with Nigerians rather than allowing others to speak on his behalf.

“If elected, nobody will talk for Peter. I will be talking to the people.”

Obi said his administration would prioritise repairing existing schools and roads instead of immediately embarking on new construction projects.

He said government must first address the decay in existing infrastructure.

“I will not build new buildings until we fix schools and existing roads.”

“We’ll fix what is existing.”

He also called on Nigerian leaders to make the country attractive enough for them and other citizens to spend their holidays at home.

“The Nigerian president should spend his vacation in Nigeria. That’s the country he leads. I will visit other countries but I will not do my holiday anywhere else.”

Obi criticised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as insufficient direct engagement with Nigerians, citing instances where the President visited places such as Jos but ended up at the airport.

He urged Tinubu to visit Benue, Kano and Jos and spend at least three days engaging with communities and seeking solutions to the killings and insecurity.

“I will go to Sokoto and spend the Sallah with the Sultan,” he said.

Obi calls for protection of national values

Obi also called on political leaders to work towards protecting the country’s value system, arguing that institutions must not be manipulated in ways that undermine democratic principles.

He said the Constitution did not permit an electoral body to be manipulated by the National Assembly in a manner that would derail the country’s value system.

“That is nonsensical. We are dealing with the issue of morality. The issues that go beyond court decision.”