Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has formally launched his campaign for the 2027 presidential election, challenging other contenders to come before 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, to mark the commencement of campaigns for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.
The former Anambra State governor said no presidential candidate should “hide behind the high walls of power” or use proxies and surrogates to campaign on their behalf.
According to him, Nigerians deserve to hear directly from those seeking their votes and scrutinise their records, credentials, policy proposals and vision for the country.
“No candidate should hide behind the high walls of power, send proxies or surrogates to the hustings, and expect Nigerians to entrust them with the leadership of the country,” Obi said.
“Every candidate seeking the presidency must have the courage to come before the people, answer their questions, defend their records, and subject their vision to public scrutiny.”
Obi, who is contesting alongside his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, said the duo would personally take their campaign across the country rather than delegate their responsibilities to political surrogates.
He said effective leadership required physical presence and empathy, arguing that politicians could not effectively lead communities without understanding the challenges confronting them.
“True leadership requires presence and empathy. No one can lead from the front without standing with communities across Nigeria devastated by banditry, criminality, terrorism, and flooding,” he said.
“You cannot truly lead people you are unwilling to visit, listen to, and understand.”
Obi said the 2027 election would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to assess the records, ideas and programmes of presidential candidates against the backdrop of the country’s economic and security challenges.
He maintained that Nigeria had the human and material resources needed to overcome its challenges, declaring that “Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work.”
The former governor listed poverty, food insecurity, internal displacement, unemployment, poor infrastructure, unreliable electricity, insecurity and the high cost of doing business among the major challenges confronting the country.
He, however, said his administration would seek to transform Nigeria from a consumption-driven economy into one focused on production, investment, enterprise and human capital development.
“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,” Obi said.
He pledged to prioritise agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction, energy, the creative industries and services, while creating an environment conducive to business investment and expansion.
On agriculture, Obi promised to improve security, irrigation, rural roads, storage facilities, access to finance and markets, while promoting manufacturing and agro-processing.
He also said public spending would be subjected to greater scrutiny, stressing that every naira spent by government must have a clear purpose and that major public investments should produce measurable outcomes.
On insecurity, Obi said economic development would remain difficult if Nigerians could not safely farm, travel, trade or conduct their businesses.
He proposed improved intelligence gathering and coordination among security agencies, stronger policing and border management, greater use of technology and lawful community-based systems for early identification of threats.
The NDC candidate also pledged to improve basic education, strengthen universities and expand technical and vocational training.
He promised to improve maternal and child healthcare, increase access to essential medicines and strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers.
According to him, Nigeria’s poor health indicators constitute a major obstacle to human capital development and economic productivity.
Obi further promised a development strategy that would allow each region to exploit its comparative advantages while contributing to the growth of the national economy.
He said the North-West could expand agriculture, livestock, irrigation, agro-processing and manufacturing, while the North-East could accelerate reconstruction and develop agriculture, education and enterprise.
He said the North-Central could strengthen food production and processing while responsibly developing its mineral resources.
According to Obi, the South-West could build on its strengths in manufacturing, technology, finance, trade and the creative economy, while the South-East could leverage its entrepreneurial and industrial base through improved infrastructure, connectivity and access to investment.
He identified oil and gas, maritime services, fisheries and agriculture as areas of potential for the South-South, alongside stronger environmental protection.
“Every region must produce. Every region must contribute. Every region must benefit,” he said.
Obi urged Nigerians to scrutinise the records and policy proposals of all candidates, ask difficult questions and demand evidence to support campaign promises.
He also called for an issue-based campaign devoid of violence, hatred, ethnic and religious divisions, saying the outcome of the 2027 election should be respected by all parties.
“Our campaign will focus on the urgent concerns of Nigerians and not on ethnicity or religion,” he said.
“Nigerians must reject and disregard any campaign driven by propaganda, ethnicity, religion, elitism, or cronyism.”
Obi said his ultimate objective was to unite Nigeria, tackle insecurity, reduce poverty and hunger, address the problem of out-of-school children, improve education and healthcare and build an economy that works for citizens.
“The campaign will mark the beginning of a journey to reset Nigeria by uniting the country, securing it and placing it on the path of inclusive economic growth.
“A New Nigeria is possible,” he declared.
