In a Tuesday interview with the [BBC African Service](https://www.bbc.com/africa), [Peter Obi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Obi), the presidential hopeful of the [Nigeria Democratic Congress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_Democratic_Congress), said he will personally lead the fight against corruption if he wins the 2027 presidential election.
Obi explained that former President [Muhammadu Buhari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammadu_Buhari) was unable to fulfil his anti‑corruption promises because, in his view, the former leader did not have full control over his administration. “He was not in charge. The difference is this: I will be in charge,” he asserted.
**Why does Obi claim Buhari failed to curb corruption?**
Obi argued that the previous government’s inability to police its own ranks allowed graft to persist, and he intends to reverse that by starting with the conduct of the president and his immediate family. “If you are not stealing, if you are not involved, your wife and family are not involved, you reduce it by 50 percent,” he said.
**How should the opposition approach the 2027 race?**
Addressing the broader opposition coalition, Obi rejected calls for any single candidate to step aside for another. He urged parties to concentrate on expanding voter turnout, citing Sokoto’s 2 million registered voters in the last election and urging a push to bring an additional 25 million voters to the polls.
**What is Obi’s position on the fuel subsidy?**
Obi reiterated his long‑standing concern that the fuel subsidy scheme is riddled with corruption. He clarified that his stance has not shifted; rather, the debate has focused on methodology. “From day one that I talked about subsidy, I talked about corruption. Corruption is the problem of subsidy,” he explained.
When asked if he would reinstate the subsidy after winning, Obi answered affirmatively but stressed that any reinstatement would first eliminate the corrupt practices tied to it. “Yes, but not with the corruption associated with it. That’s why I said I will remove the corruption and retain the subsidy,” he concluded.