Peter Obi has challenged all presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 election to present their credentials, defend their records and subject their plans for the country to public scrutiny.
Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), made the call at a press conference to kick-start the party’s campaign, saying candidates seeking to lead Nigeria must have the courage to engage directly with citizens and answer questions about their records and vision.
“Every candidate that seeks the presidency must have the courage to come before the people, answer their questions, defend their records and subject their vision to public scrutiny. True leadership requires presence and empathy. No one can lead from the front without standing with the communities across Nigeria,” he said at a press conference at his GRA Onitsha residence, Anambra State, where he also unveiled his agenda to unite and secure Nigeria, grow the economy, and move the country “from consumption to production.”
The former Anambra State governor said genuine leadership required candidates to be physically present among Nigerians, particularly communities affected by insecurity and natural disasters.
“True leadership requires presence and empathy. No one can lead from the front without standing with the communities across Nigeria devastated by banditry, criminality, terrorism or flooding. You cannot truly lead a people you are unwilling to visit, listen to and understand,” Obi said.
He said he and his vice presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso would take their campaign directly to Nigerians, listen to their concerns and engage them without relying on proxies.
Obi added that the campaign would focus on the issues affecting Nigerians rather than ethnic or religious sentiments.
“The 2027 election must be guided by competence, capacity, compassion, character and commitment. Our campaign will focus on urgent concerns of Nigerians and not on ethnicity or religion,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to reject campaigns driven by propaganda, ethnicity and religion, saying the country needed leaders capable of tackling insecurity, poverty, hunger and the growing number of out-of-school children while improving education, healthcare and economic opportunities.
Citizens Must Demand Accountability
According to him, Nigerians should also assess whether their lives have improved under the current administration and demand accountability from those entrusted with political power.
“Democracy does not end on election day. Citizens must continue to demand transparency, accountability and resolve from those entrusted with the mandate to govern.
“I commit to commencing the journey of resetting Nigeria by uniting it, securing it, on the path of economic and inclusive growth and moving our country from consumption to production,” he said.
Obi, who is contesting alongside former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, expressed confidence that their complementary governing experiences would strengthen their bid to address Nigeria’s challenges.
He identified insecurity, poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, poor infrastructure, unreliable electricity and the high cost of doing business among the problems confronting the country, insisting that Nigeria has the resources and human capacity required to overcome them.
On his economic agenda, Obi pledged to prioritise production, investment, enterprise and human capital development, with agriculture, manufacturing, agro-processing, technology, energy and other productive sectors at the centre of his plans. He also promised improved security for farmers, better infrastructure, access to finance and markets, responsible management of public finances and an environment that would enable businesses to invest, expand and create jobs.
“Nigeria cannot import its way to prosperity. We will produce more of what we consume, process more of what we produce, and compete more effectively in global markets,” he said.
Obi further promised reforms in security, education and healthcare, while pledging to cut wasteful spending and protect investments that expand productive capacity.
He urged Nigerians to ensure that the 2027 election is guided by “capacity, competence, compassion, character, and commitment” and called for accountability beyond election day.
“I enter this contest with one firm conviction: Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work,” Obi said, declaring his commitment to begin what he described as “the journey of resetting Nigeria” by uniting the country, securing it and placing it on the path of inclusive economic growth.
Obi’s comments come amid renewed scrutiny of the credentials of presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 election, following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s publication of nomination forms and supporting documents submitted by candidates.
2027 Election
The 2027 presidential campaign officially began on Wednesday in line with INEC’s timetable, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.
The election is expected to feature a major contest between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition forces, amid ongoing efforts to build alliances and realignments ahead of the poll.
In the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu, the APC candidate, defeated Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Tinubu secured more than eight million votes, while Atiku and Obi each polled more than six million votes. Kwankwaso secured more than one million votes.
Ahead of the 2027 poll, opposition politicians have intensified coalition-building efforts, with Atiku and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi emerging as leading figures in the ADC-led opposition coalition, while Obi is seeking the presidency under the NDC.
The incumbent president is also seeking a second term for the nation’s top job. The campaign season began a day after major presidential contenders signed a National Peace Accord on Tuesday, pledging to conduct their campaigns and the election peacefully.
