Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has travelled to Germany and the United Kingdom for a series of high-level engagements as political activities intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

Obi disclosed his latest movement in a social media post on Thursday, September 10, following his return to Abuja from visits to Benue and Plateau states.

Obi Begins European Engagements

According to the former Anambra State governor, his engagements in Germany and the UK are focused on issues he considers critical to Nigeria’s future.

He listed democracy, electoral integrity, poverty, education, corruption and healthcare among the issues discussed during the engagements.

Obi said the meetings also explored practical measures that could improve the living conditions of Nigerians and protect their dignity.

The NDC candidate said he returned to Abuja on September 8 after his visits to Benue and Plateau before travelling to Europe, beginning with Germany and subsequently moving to the United Kingdom.

Education Takes Centre Stage

Obi said he was encouraged by the willingness of international partners to support Nigeria, particularly in the education sector.

He described education as the most important investment Nigeria can make in its citizens, arguing that sustainable development would remain difficult without building the knowledge, skills and capabilities of the population.

His emphasis on education comes as he continues to make human capital development a central part of his political messaging ahead of the 2027 election.

Obi Restates Economic Vision

The former Anambra governor also used the occasion to reiterate his call for a fundamental change in Nigeria’s economic direction.

He advocated a transition from consumption to production, dependence to productivity and wasteful practices to responsible resource management.

Obi said his broader objective was to build a country where children have access to quality education, democracy reflects the will of voters, healthcare is accessible and public resources are managed responsibly.

2027 Political Activities Gather Momentum

Obi’s European engagements come at a time when political activities surrounding the 2027 presidential election are intensifying.

The former Anambra governor has continued to position himself as a major opposition contender. On September 8, he described Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as qualified to become president while calling on opposition politicians to put their differences aside and focus on challenges including poverty, hunger and insecurity.

Obi has also recently made electoral integrity a major part of his campaign message, saying his primary concern is whether Nigerians will be able to protect their votes during the 2027 election rather than simply whether he personally wins.

Other Politicians Begin International Engagements

Obi is not the only presidential contender undertaking international engagements ahead of the election.

Politics Nigeria reported that African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore recently travelled to the United States and Canada as part of a North American tour involving engagements with Nigerians in the diaspora, supporters, activists and other stakeholders.

The movements come as the 2027 electoral calendar advances. According to the report, INEC’s official campaign period began on August 19, 2026, while the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027.

Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has rejected calls for a return to petrol subsidy, proposing instead that crude oil supplied to Nigerian refineries should be priced more affordably.

Makinde said the approach would reduce the cost of petrol for Nigerians without returning to what he described as the old subsidy system.

He made the remarks on Monday while speaking at the commissioning of the APM presidential campaign office in Abuja, where he outlined elements of his “Reset Nigeria” agenda.

Makinde: Domestic Crude Should Reflect Nigeria’s Oil-Producing Status

Makinde questioned why crude oil supplied to refineries in Nigeria should be priced as though it had been imported from abroad.

According to him, Nigeria’s status as an oil-producing country should be reflected in the price at which crude is supplied for domestic refining.

He argued that any benefit from Nigeria’s crude resources should be built into the petroleum pricing system from the beginning rather than introduced through interventions at the petrol pump after other costs and inefficiencies have accumulated.

‘I Am Not Calling for Fuel Subsidy’

The governor stressed that his proposal should not be interpreted as an attempt to restore the former petrol subsidy regime.

Instead, he advocated a pricing framework in which locally produced crude supplied to domestic refineries is made available at a price that can help lower the final cost of refined petroleum products.

He also called for greater transparency throughout the petroleum value chain, from crude production and domestic allocation to refining, transportation, distribution, taxes and retail margins.

Makinde Rejects Atiku’s Subsidy Proposal

Makinde’s position comes after former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is also seeking the presidency in 2027, pledged to restore fuel subsidy if elected.

Atiku has argued that reinstating the subsidy would help reduce the financial burden created by the removal of the policy in 2023.

President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023, a move that resulted in a sharp increase in petrol prices and contributed to higher transportation and living costs.

Makinde, however, said the focus should instead be on addressing the pricing structure that determines the cost of petrol.

Governor Calls for Transparency in Petroleum Sector

The APM presidential candidate said Nigerians should be able to understand how the final price of petrol is determined.

He argued that citizens should know what they are paying for, who receives payments across the value chain and where inefficiencies are increasing the eventual pump price.

Makinde said his proposed Reset Nigeria agenda would seek to make government decisions and the use of public resources more transparent and accountable.

Makinde Defends 2027 Presidential Bid

Addressing concerns about the strength of his presidential campaign, Makinde said he had previously faced doubts when he contested the Oyo State governorship.

He argued that political observers who underestimate his campaign are also underestimating millions of Nigerians who want changes in the way the country is governed.

The governor called on Nigerians to participate in his proposed “Reset Nigeria” conversation by contributing ideas and challenging policy proposals ahead of the 2027 election.

What Makinde’s Proposal Could Mean

Makinde’s proposal represents a different approach to reducing petrol prices from a conventional fuel subsidy.

Rather than having government compensate suppliers or consumers for part of the cost after the pricing process, his proposal focuses on the upstream cost of crude supplied to domestic refineries.

If implemented, such a framework would require clear rules on domestic crude pricing, refinery costs, transportation, taxes, margins and other components that determine the final pump price.

For now, the proposal remains a campaign policy position, not an existing federal government policy.

The Director-General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), Professor Palokinam Pitche, has visited the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC) in Abuja as part of efforts to strengthen health security and disease preparedness across West Africa.

The visit focused on improving strategic collaboration and coordination between WAHO leadership and the regional disease-control centre.

According to a statement disclosed on Thursday, the engagement provided an opportunity to assess the centre’s activities and discuss measures for strengthening regional preparedness and response to public health threats.

Pitche Reviews Disease Surveillance Activities

During the working session, Pitche reviewed the RCSDC’s recent activities and achievements, as well as some of the operational challenges confronting the centre.

The discussions also examined prospects for improving disease surveillance and response mechanisms across the ECOWAS region.

Particular attention was given to priorities requiring stronger coordination within WAHO structures to ensure more effective responses to emerging and ongoing public health challenges.

WAHO Seeks Stronger Regional Coordination

The WAHO chief reaffirmed his support for the RCSDC, stressing the importance of stronger collaboration among institutions under the organisation.

The engagement is expected to contribute to improved coordination of regional health initiatives and more effective collective responses to complex health emergencies.

The organisation said the visit reflects the new WAHO leadership’s commitment to strengthening internal cooperation and advancing coordinated health-security efforts across West Africa.

New WAHO Leadership Begins Regional Engagements

Pitche assumed office as WAHO Director-General on September 1, 2026, succeeding the previous administration.

The Togolese public health specialist brings more than 25 years of experience in public health, health services administration, programme management and health systems strengthening.

His professional background includes work with national governments and international organisations such as the World Health Organisation, UNAIDS, USAID, WAHO, UNDP and UNFPA.

Strengthening Health Security Across West Africa

WAHO is the specialised health institution of ECOWAS, with a mandate to support member states in improving health systems, expanding access to healthcare and protecting populations across the region.

The RCSDC, based in Abuja, plays an important role in regional disease surveillance and coordination of responses to public health emergencies.

The latest engagement between the WAHO leadership and the centre therefore comes as part of broader efforts to build stronger regional systems for detecting, preventing and responding to health threats.