The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has formally commenced his campaign in Onitsha, Anambra State, urging Nigerians to make their choice based on competence, character, capacity and the ability of candidates to deliver results.
Obi commenced the campaign on Friday, two days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifted restrictions on campaign activities.
Addressing journalists at his Onitsha residence, Obi said the 2027 presidential election should be centred on issues that directly affect the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians rather than ethnicity, religion or political propaganda.
He identified five critical questions he said should guide voters in assessing the candidates: whether Nigerians are better off than they were four years ago; whether citizens can afford food, education and healthcare; whether businesses can produce, expand and create jobs; whether young people can find productive employment; and whether farmers can operate safely and get their produce to market.
Obi pledged that he and his running mate, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, would prioritise the fight against insecurity, poverty and hunger, while working to reduce the number of out-of-school children and improve education and healthcare.
He also promised to promote an economy that creates opportunities for Nigerians, particularly vulnerable citizens, and to move the country from consumption to production.
The NDC candidate challenged all presidential candidates to present their credentials, defend their records and subject their programmes to public scrutiny.
According to him, no candidate should hide behind the “high walls of power” or rely on proxies and surrogates while seeking Nigerians’ votes.
He said presidential candidates must be prepared to travel across the country, meet citizens, listen to their concerns and understand the challenges facing communities affected by banditry, terrorism, criminality and flooding.
“True leadership requires presence and empathy,” Obi said, stressing that a leader could not effectively govern people without engaging directly with them.
He assured Nigerians that his campaign would take its message directly to the people, adding that he and his team would listen to citizens, understand their concerns and present their plans for rebuilding the country.
Obi said his political agenda would focus on resetting Nigeria by strengthening national unity, improving security, promoting inclusive economic growth and transforming the country from a consumption-based economy to one driven by production.
He urged Nigerians to scrutinise the records and proposals of all presidential candidates, ask difficult questions and demand evidence behind campaign promises.
He also appealed to politicians and their supporters to debate ideas without hatred, compete without violence and disagree without undermining national unity.
According to him, democracy should not end on election day, as citizens must continue to demand transparency, accountability and results from those entrusted with public office.
On the economy, Obi said reforms should ultimately translate into improved living standards for Nigerians.
He referred to the World Bank’s April 2026 Nigeria Development Update, which, according to him, highlighted the need to translate economic reforms and stabilisation into improved livelihoods, stronger human capital, wider opportunities and inclusive growth.
He said his administration would pursue practical reforms capable of delivering sustainable results, combining fiscal discipline with productive investment.
Obi further said the 2027 election must be guided by capacity, competence, compassion, character and commitment, rather than ethnicity, religion, elitism or cronyism.
He maintained that Nigeria possesses the human and material resources, enterprise and creativity needed to build a safer and more productive country.
He, however, said achieving the potential would require unity, effective leadership, stronger institutions and citizens willing to hold their leaders accountable.
Obi assured Nigerians that as the campaign progresses, he and his team would travel across the country to engage citizens, understand their concerns and present their plans for what he described as a transformative journey to reset Nigeria.
