‘This waste must stop,’ Obi pledges to cut corruption, reduce cost of governance after clinching NDC ticket

The former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has pledged to significantly reduce corruption and the cost of governance if elected Nigeria’s president in 2027.

Obi made the promise shortly after emerging as the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) at the party’s national convention in Abuja on Saturday.

The former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate had earlier promised to serve only one four-year term if elected.

He said his administration would focus on eliminating wasteful spending and redirecting public resources to key sectors of the economy.

“We will drastically reduce the cost of governance and corruption. This waste must stop,” Obi said.

According to him, corruption can only be effectively tackled when public officials and their families stop misusing government resources.

Obi also vowed to uphold the rule of law, promising an end to executive interference in the judiciary and ensuring that court decisions are based solely on legal principles.

He stressed that respect for the rule of law is essential for attracting investors and rebuilding trust in public institutions.

“We need the law to work because that is what will attract investment for us. We need people to be sure that when they go to court, the judgement will be an interpretation of the law,” he said.

Drawing from his time as governor of Anambra State, Obi recalled how he resolved electoral and tenure disputes through the courts without attempting to influence judicial outcomes.

He said his legal victories, including those secured at the Supreme Court, strengthened his conviction that the rule of law remains central to democratic governance.

“When the rule of law prevails, the country will work,” he added.

The former governor also advocated reforms aimed at deepening democracy, insisting that government must genuinely reflect the will of the people.

“It must be a government of the people, by the people and for the people. The people must be the ones determining what is happening,” he said.

Obi further alleged that opposition parties are facing intimidation under the current administration, claiming that political groups have been denied venues and subjected to harassment.

He said the NDC encountered difficulties in securing a venue for its convention after several locations allegedly turned down the party.

“Opposition parties are being treated like criminals, harassed and intimidated,” he alleged.

He also claimed that some opposition activities had been disrupted by security agencies and that organisers of the NDC convention were advised not to publicise the event until the day it took place.

Despite these concerns, Obi promised that his administration would safeguard political pluralism and ensure opposition parties are free to operate.

“Our government will not suppress the opposition. We will encourage them. We will make sure they exist because that is what democracy should be,” Obi said.