Obi Kicks Off 2027 Campaign, Outlines Plan for New Nigeria
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Party, Peter Obi, has officially commenced his campaign for the 2027 presidential election, challenging other candidates to face Nigerians, defend their records and answer questions about their capacity to govern. Obi spoke on Friday at a press conference at his residence in Onitsha, Anambra State, marking the commencement of campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections. He said candidates should not hide behind “the high walls of power” or rely on proxies and surrogates, stressing that Nigerians deserve to hear directly from those seeking their mandate. Obi, who is running alongside his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, said the pair would personally take their campaign across the country to listen to citizens and understand their concerns. He identified poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, insecurity, internal displacement, weak infrastructure, unreliable electricity and the high cost of doing business as major challenges facing Nigeria. The former Anambra State governor, however, said the country had the people, resources, talent, market and enterprise needed to overcome its difficulties. He promised that his administration would shift Nigeria from a consumption-driven economy towards production, investment, enterprise and human-capital development. Obi said agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction, energy, creative industries and services would be prioritised, while businesses would receive a better environment to invest, expand and create jobs. He also pledged improved security, irrigation, rural roads, storage facilities, financing and market access for farmers, alongside stronger manufacturing and agro-processing. On insecurity, Obi advocated better intelligence gathering, stronger coordination among security agencies, improved policing and border management, increased use of technology and lawful community-based early warning systems. He also promised improvements in education and healthcare, including stronger universities, technical training, better maternal and child healthcare and access to essential medicines. Obi urged voters to scrutinise candidates, demand evidence for campaign promises and reject campaigns based on ethnicity, religion, hatred or violence. He said his ultimate goal was to unite Nigeria, defeat insecurity, reduce poverty and hunger, improve education and healthcare, and build an inclusive economy. He declared that the campaign marked the beginning of a journey to “reset Nigeria,” insisting that “A New Nigeria is possible.”
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