The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of gross corruption following claims that ₦8.83 trillion in 2025 expenditure was not captured in the national budget.

Obi made the allegation in a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, citing what he described as findings from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) consultation report.

According to him, the reported expenditure was not appropriated in the 2025 budget and was therefore outside legislative oversight and administrative scrutiny.

“The recent report from the IMF consultation further raises concerns about the scale of grand corruption under the Tinubu government. The IMF now reveals that about ₦8.83 trillion in expenditure undertaken in 2025 is not reflected in the budget. This expenditure is not budgeted and is therefore not under legislative oversight or administrative scrutiny. This is horrible,” Obi said.

He argued that the amount represents about two per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and over 35 per cent of the country’s ₦23.96 trillion capital expenditure budget for 2025.

Obi also claimed that the sum exceeds the combined allocations to the education and health sectors in the 2025 budget, saying it could have been used to improve public services, create jobs and support economic development if properly managed.

The former Anambra State governor alleged that the development reflected a pattern of financial mismanagement under the current administration.

He further accused the government of failing to uphold basic principles of public financial management, warning that such practices could undermine national stability and deepen poverty.

Describing the administration as “grossly corrupt, incompetent and insensitive,” Obi argued that the reported expenditure underscored the need for greater accountability in the management of public resources.

He also reiterated his earlier call for President Tinubu to resign, citing what he described as incompetence, failure to fulfil campaign promises and alleged lack of commitment to the welfare and security of Nigerians.

Obi urged citizens to hold the government accountable through lawful and democratic means.

The Presidency and the Federal Government had not responded to Obi’s claims as of the time of filing this report.

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of presiding over what he described as “grand corruption,” citing an alleged N8.83 trillion in unbudgeted expenditure highlighted in a recent International Monetary Fund consultation report.

In a statement titled “Grand Corruption: Nigeria’s Greatest Threat,” posted on his X account on Sunday, Obi claimed the reported expenditure was not captured in the 2025 budget, arguing that it was therefore outside legislative oversight and administrative scrutiny.

According to him, the N8.83 trillion represents about two per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), more than 35 per cent of the country’s 2025 capital budget of N23.96 trillion, and exceeds the combined allocations for education and health.

Obi said the funds, if properly utilised and accounted for, could have significantly improved public healthcare, education and job creation through the establishment of cottage industries.

He alleged that the development was not an isolated case but part of a broader pattern of corruption under the current administration.

The former Anambra State governor further accused the government of disregarding public finance management rules, warning that such practices threaten national security, deepen poverty and weaken state institutions.

Describing the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration as “grossly corrupt, incompetent and insensitive,” Obi argued that the alleged mismanagement of public resources had worsened the country’s economic and social challenges.

Reiterating an earlier call for Tinubu to resign, Obi said recent developments had reinforced his position that the President should step down over what he described as incompetence, lack of compassion and failure to fulfil campaign promises.

“The recent report from the IMF consultation further raises concerns about the scale of grand corruption under the Tinubu government. 

“The IMF now reveals that about N8.83 trillion in expenditure undertaken in 2025 is not reflected in the budget. This expenditure is not budgeted and is therefore not under legislative oversight or administrative scrutiny. This is horrible.

“N8.83 trillion is as follows:

“About 2% of our GDP.

Over 35% of Nigeria’s 2025 N23.96 trillion capital project budget. In fact, the amount is more than the actual released capital funding for 2025.

“It is more than the entire combined budget for education (N3.52 trillion) and health (N2.38 trillion).

“If such an amount is properly used and accounted for, it could transform Nigeria’s public health and education sectors. It could create hundreds of cottage industries that can provide jobs for thousands of graduates and build a solid foundation for economic development. But we cannot account for it. This is not an isolated incident.

“This is a pattern of grand corruption that has become part of this administration.

“We have a lot to worry about regarding the state of corruption under President Tinubu. 

“The sort of corruption that is ingrained in total disregard of elementary rules of public finance management poses a grave danger to national security and the stability of the Nigerian state,” part of the statement read.

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

The Asiwaju Mandate Group (AMG) in Ondo State has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee’s (NWC) reversal of several Senate and House of Representatives primary election results saved the party from what it described as an “electoral precipice.”

Speaking in Akure, the Director-General of the group, Olumuyiwa Asagunla, alleged that the primaries exposed “deep fractures” within the party and were reduced to a “theatre of manipulation and administrative high-handedness orchestrated from the highest seat of power in Alagbaka.”

“Instead of fostering internal democracy, the processes were weaponised to settle personal scores, sideline original party owners, loyal party stalwarts, and forcefully plant political neophytes. Despite all, we are happy that truth prevailed,” Asagunla said.

He accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of displaying what he described as “short political memory,” arguing that the party structure stood by him during his impeachment ordeal as deputy governor and later gave him full support to secure the governorship.

“Yet, upon securing the executive seat, the Governor has chosen to repay loyalty with disdain, sidelining the original party owners, leaders and elders,” he said.

“A leader who cannot manage success without alienating his benefactors is bound for an administrative awakening.”

The group said the June 20, 2026, Ondo South Senatorial by-election reflected the impact of what it described as the governor’s “isolationist approach.”

According to Asagunla, although Ondo South has 673,446 registered voters, only 70,770 participated in the election, with the APC candidate polling 68,474 votes.

“For a sitting Governor to be unable to mobilise even a minor fraction of the registered voters in his own home turf is a terrible indictment,” he said.

“This shocking voter apathy is a direct testament to the fact that the grassroots has been completely alienated by the Governor’s arrogance.”

He further claimed that Governor Aiyedatiwa would be unable to deliver Ondo State for the APC in the 2027 presidential election.

“Governor Aiyedatiwa is currently incapable of delivering Ondo State for the APC in the upcoming 2027 presidential election,” he alleged.

The AMG also criticised a protest allegedly led by the Commissioner for Women Affairs against the NWC’s revised National Assembly candidates’ list.