The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of widespread 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 contained in the latest consultation report by the International Monetary Fund.
According to him, the reported expenditure was not appropriated in the 2025 budget, placing it outside legislative oversight and administrative scrutiny.
“The recent IMF consultation report raises fresh concerns about the scale of corruption under the Tinubu administration. The IMF reveals that about ₦8.83 trillion in expenditure undertaken in 2025 is not reflected in the budget. This expenditure was not appropriated and is therefore beyond legislative oversight and administrative scrutiny. This is deeply troubling,” Obi said.
He argued that the amount represents about two per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and more than 35 per cent of the country’s ₦23.96 trillion capital expenditure allocation for 2025.
Obi further claimed that the sum exceeds the combined allocations to the education and health sectors in the 2025 budget, arguing that the funds could have been invested in critical infrastructure, public services, job creation and economic development if properly managed.
The former Anambra State governor said the alleged expenditure reflected a pattern of financial mismanagement by the current administration.
He also accused the government of failing to adhere to established principles of public financial management, warning that such practices could undermine fiscal stability, weaken public trust and worsen poverty.
Describing the Tinubu administration as “grossly corrupt, incompetent and insensitive,” Obi maintained that the reported off-budget spending highlighted the urgent need for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public finances.
He also reiterated his earlier call for President Tinubu to resign, alleging incompetence, failure to fulfil campaign promises and a lack of commitment to the welfare and security of Nigerians.
