The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has blamed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for worsening poverty and insecurity in Nigeria, promising to restore citizens’ confidence in governance if elected in 2027.

Obi spoke on Monday in Sokoto during a town hall meeting with members and supporters of the party, where he outlined his plans for security, education, agriculture, transportation and economic development.

He alleged that the APC-led administration had failed to adequately provide basic infrastructure and social interventions for Nigerians.

According to him, the situation had contributed to the worsening economic hardship confronting citizens across the country.

“The current administration and some political leaders in the country have abandoned the citizenry without basic infrastructure and intervention. That is why the country is the highest poverty-stricken in the world,” Obi alleged.

He said an NDC administration would prioritise security, education and agriculture in its efforts to rebuild the economy and restore hope among Nigerians.

“We are committed to transforming the country under a united, secure and prosperous leadership of the NDC.

“It is only the NDC that has the capacity and visionary policies that would reverse the system rot. No fake promises will come from us. You will see our commitment by keeping to our promises,” he said.

On transportation, the former Governor of Anambra State described an efficient railway system as critical to economic growth, saying his administration would expand rail connectivity across the country.

He specifically promised to pursue rail links connecting Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states with other parts of the North-West and the country.

“I will effectively ensure rail transport connects Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, the entire North-West and other regions,” Obi said.

The NDC candidate also promised greater coordination between the president and vice-president, saying his proposed partnership with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso would ensure that both leaders worked towards the same objectives.

“You will see how leadership works in the same direction. Myself and the Vice Presidential candidate will be working together the way you see us together in Sokoto today,” he said.

On fuel subsidy, Obi said his administration would introduce a transparent system that would ensure Nigerians benefit from government interventions while eliminating opportunities for corruption.

He described the previous subsidy regime as having been undermined by corruption, promising to establish greater transparency in the management of the country’s oil and gas resources.

“Kwankwaso and I will initiate a work plan that would transparently arrive at the quantum of crude, nature of transactions, import and export, and revenue accruing from every single oil and gas transaction and activity for the benefit of Nigerians,” he said.

He further pledged to work with state governors, particularly in the North, to address insecurity and its impact on local economies.

According to him, banditry, kidnapping and terrorism have disrupted economic activities and development in many communities across the region.

Obi also promised to support farmers through fertiliser subsidies and other agricultural interventions aimed at increasing food production and strengthening food security.

He urged voters in Sokoto State to support the NDC, describing the state as strategically important to the party’s plans for the 2027 election.

Also speaking, the NDC vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, accused the APC administration of failing to adequately address the challenges confronting Nigerians, particularly insecurity in the North-West.

Kwankwaso urged residents of Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jigawa states to demand improved security and better economic opportunities.

He said the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket represented an attempt to provide a different approach to governance, particularly in tackling insecurity, poverty and underdevelopment.

The former Kano State governor said the North was still facing challenges in education, industrialisation and security, promising that an NDC administration would prioritise the sectors.

He cited previous political partnerships involving leaders from different regions and faiths, including the relationships between Sir Ahmadu Bello and Nnamdi Azikiwe, Shehu Shagari and Alex Ekwueme, Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar, and Goodluck Jonathan and Namadi Sambo.

Earlier, the NDC governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Shamsuddeen Haido, urged party members and supporters to intensify mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

The State chairman of the party, Bello Sani Yabo, described the town hall meeting as an opportunity for members to engage with the party’s proposed agenda for the country.

He assured that the party remained committed to working for victory in Sokoto State.

Meanwhile, Obi and Kwankwaso paid a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, where they sought his blessings ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Former Vice President Abubakar has asked President Bola Tinubu to give a full account of Nigeria’s borrowing and debt profile and address the hardship faced by Nigerians following the removal of the fuel subsidy.

Atiku said this in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.

He said after more than three years of reforms, Nigerians are facing higher food, transport and energy bills, with public debt recorded at N166.79 trillion as at June 30, 2026, according to the Debt Management Office (DMO, compared to N49.85 trillion in March 2023.

“A government that says more money is coming in must explain why it keeps borrowing and why the people paying for its policies cannot see the promised gains,” Atiku said.

The ADC presidential candidate asked the President to identify old debt newly recorded, foreign debt whose naira value rose with the exchange rate, and every new loan contracted since assumption of office, as well as what has been repaid and outstanding.

Atiku said the debt question cannot be separated from the lived reality of ordinary Nigerians, noting that while government reports improving macroeconomic outcomes, many citizens struggle with the cost of living.

He said the true test of economic policy is whether Nigerians can afford food, transportation, housing, education, healthcare and electricity.

He cited an IMF assessment in June 2026, which said reforms improved macroeconomic outcomes but acknowledged conditions remained difficult, estimating poverty at 63 per cent under the national poverty line and saying 27 million Nigerians faced food insecurity in the latter part of 2025, with a warning that higher fuel, food and transport costs could worsen poverty.

He also cited recent fuel price pressures, with petrol selling around N1,400 per litre in Lagos and Abuja and as high as N1,500 in parts of northern Nigeria in September, while diesel exceeded N2,000 per litre.

Atiku said the cost of servicing debt has become a major concern, citing BudgIT report that  quarter of 2025, debt service reached N12.52 trillion against N18.63 trillion revenue — 67.2 per cent.

He noted the 2026 fiscal framework provides for about N68.32 trillion expenditure against projected revenue of N36.87 trillion, leaving deficit of roughly N31.45 trillion.

He recalled President Tinubu’s remarks at Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi in May that Nigeria expected to spend about $11.6 billion on debt service in 2026, describing the amount as nearly half of projected revenue.

Atiku also demanded disclosure concerning DMO’s external debt-service schedule for second quarter of 2026, where $39.25 million was recorded as ‘other charges’ between April and June 2026, including $22.5 million against First Abu Dhabi Bank Total Return Swap and about $8.97 million against Deutsche Bank AG.

He asked for clarification on what the $22.5 million charge was for, which agreement authorised it, original facility, how much was drawn and obligations outstanding.

He also asked for reconciliation of Treasury Bill borrowing, noting DMO reported N19.48 trillion outstanding Nigerian Treasury Bills at 30 June 2026, and urged the government to publish what subsequently matured, redeemed, rolled over and what constituted new borrowing.

Atiku said the administration should apologise to families facing hardship and account for revenues and borrowing.

“An apology is not too much to ask from a government under whose watch many Nigerians have been pushed into deeper economic distress,” he said.

“Good economics must ultimately improve human life. If government revenue rises while families become poorer, Nigerians have right to demand full account.”

• He urged the Federal government to reconcile borrowing, explain charges, show what sacrifice has produced and focus on making life affordable.

Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has reportedly postponed his return to the country.

TheCable reports that the president’s travel plans changed at the last minute.

Tinubu was expected to return to Nigeria today after spending weeks in Europe on a working vacation.

He was expected to arrive in Lagos, where he would remain for up to a week before proceeding to Abuja, the nation’s capital.

However, the president’s itinerary has been revised, with his return to Nigeria now expected on Tuesday.

Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for London, where he began what the presidency described as a three-week working vacation as part of his annual leave.

After spending about a week in the United Kingdom, the president travelled to Paris, France.

During his stay in Paris, Tinubu met with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.

The presidency announced on September 21 that the president had extended his stay abroad by a few days and was expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend.

According to the presidency, Tinubu remained in touch with officials at home and continued to oversee government affairs while abroad.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented him at some official functions during his absence.

However, Shettima travelled to New York on September 20 to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

The latest change to Tinubu’s return schedule comes amid questions over his prolonged absence from the country.

His extended stay abroad has led to a constitutional debate, with some opposition figures questioning whether presidential powers should have been transferred to Shettima after 21 days.

Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution states that a president proceeding on vacation shall transmit a written declaration to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after which the vice-president assumes the functions of the president in an acting capacity.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said on Tuesday that there was no vacancy in Aso Rock, adding that Tinubu remained in charge of the country’s affairs despite being outside Nigeria.