Nigerian presidential hopeful Obi promises anti-corruption drive

Nigerian opposition candidate Peter Obi has pledged to tackle government waste and fight corruption as part of his anti-corruption drive, according to AFP. Speaking in Abuja, Obi, a former governor from southeastern Nigeria, emphasized that cutting the cost of governance and eliminating corruption would free up resources for addressing critical issues such as health, education, and poverty alleviation.

However, Obi acknowledged that this would be a challenging task, given the decades of corruption that have permeated Nigeria's institutions. With President Bola Tinubu's All Progressive Congress controlling 31 of the country's 36 governorships and a more extensive party infrastructure, Obi, who is 65, would be entering the race as an outsider.

Violence and poverty are also significant concerns, with security at Obi's campaign headquarters reflecting the country's turbulent conflicts. The presidential hopeful has focused his campaign on security, which he linked to poverty, calling for an increase in manufacturing jobs to reduce criminality. However, Nigeria's GDP share of manufacturing fell from 21% in 1994 to 8% in 2025.

Economic challenges, including a 63% poverty rate, and security threats such as jihadists, gangs, separatists, and land disputes have worsened under Tinubu's leadership. Atiku Abubakar, another main opposition challenger, has suggested restoring the subsidized petrol price but without directly reducing the cost at the pump. Obi suggested that fighting corruption in the oil sector could help reduce prices.

Despite concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, Obi urged Nigerians to vote and decide which of the candidates is best suited to lead the country.