The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to participate actively in the 2027 general elections and ensure their votes are protected from the polling unit through to the final declaration of results.
Obi made the appeal in a post on his official X handle after a series of engagements with party supporters, stakeholders and residents across Kogi, Benue and Enugu states.
The former Anambra State governor began the latest phase of his consultations in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, where he met with party members and stakeholders alongside the NDC’s Kogi East Senatorial candidate, High Chief Peter Ameh.
During the meeting, discussions focused on some of the key challenges affecting Nigerians, including insecurity, healthcare, education, unemployment and poverty.
Obi urged his supporters to remain committed to the democratic process while taking responsibility for protecting their votes throughout the electoral process.
“We urged our supporters to remain dedicated to the democratic process, turn out in large numbers to vote, and, above all, safeguard and defend their votes from the polling unit through the final declaration of results,” Obi said.
The NDC presidential candidate also visited Otukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State and Obollo Afor in Enugu State, where he engaged with residents and traders along the routes.
He said the issues raised during the various engagements were largely the same, with citizens calling for improved security, employment opportunities, functional hospitals and schools, and better economic opportunities.
“Across all these engagements, the concerns expressed by our people remain essentially the same. They seek security in their communities, meaningful employment opportunities for our youths, access to properly functioning hospitals and schools for their children, and the means and resources to lead decent, dignified lives
“These are not excessive demands. They represent the basic expectations citizens hold of a government dedicated to their welfare. As we move forward on this journey, our message remains unequivocal: Nigeria can succeed, and government can be made to serve its people,” Obi said.
Obi’s latest appeal comes days after he told supporters at a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, that he was prepared to stand alongside Nigerians in protecting their votes during the 2027 election.
The former Anambra governor was responding to a supporter who said Nigerians were “ready to die” to defend their mandate.
“Don’t be intimidated. Somebody said, ‘We are ready to die.’
“Let me tell you, I’m equally ready to die. So you’re not alone.”
Obi also warned that there could be attempts to manipulate the electoral process but expressed confidence that Nigerians would be more prepared to prevent such efforts.
Obi is seeking the presidency for the second consecutive election cycle after contesting the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party.
He finished third in the 2023 election with 6,101,533 votes, behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, who secured 6,984,520 votes, and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, who won with 8,794,726 votes.
Obi and the Labour Party challenged the outcome in court, alleging electoral irregularities. However, the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal dismissed the petition in September 2023, while the Supreme Court later upheld Tinubu’s victory.
Ahead of the 2027 election, opposition parties and politicians have intensified efforts to build alliances and realign politically.
Obi has since moved to the NDC, which unveiled him as its presidential candidate in May. He is contesting alongside former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is his running mate.
Atiku Abubakar, another major opposition contender, is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
President Bola Tinubu is also seeking another term in office.
According to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the 2027 general elections will commence on January 16, 2027, with the presidential and National Assembly elections.
The final register of voters is expected to be released on January 11, while political campaigns are scheduled to end on February 18. A possible presidential runoff is scheduled for February 28, with governorship and State Assembly elections expected to hold on March 6, 2027.
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