Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Party, Peter Obi, has officially commenced his campaign for the 2027 presidential election, urging fellow candidates to engage directly with Nigerians and defend their records, policies and campaign promises.
Obi made the call on Friday during a press conference at his residence in Onitsha, Anambra State, where he outlined his priorities ahead of the presidential and National Assembly elections.
The former Anambra State governor said Nigerians should not be expected to support candidates who avoid direct interaction with voters or rely on representatives to speak on their behalf.
“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.
He argued that presidential candidates should be ready to answer questions from the electorate, explain their previous records and allow Nigerians to scrutinise their proposed policies.
Obi also stressed that effective leadership requires leaders to be physically present and empathetic, particularly in communities facing insecurity, terrorism, banditry, criminality and flooding.
“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.
Running alongside Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Obi said the duo would personally take their campaign to communities across the country rather than delegate their responsibilities to representatives.
The presidential candidate identified poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, unreliable electricity, internal displacement and the rising cost of doing business as some of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges.
He said his proposed administration would focus on transforming the economy from one heavily dependent on consumption and imports to one driven by production, investment and enterprise.
“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 said agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction, energy, the creative sector and services would be among the areas prioritised under his economic agenda.
He also promised measures to improve the business environment and encourage greater domestic production.
On security, Obi proposed stronger intelligence gathering, improved coordination among security agencies, better policing and border management, increased use of technology and community-based systems for identifying threats early.
He also outlined plans to reform education and healthcare, including strengthening basic education, improving universities, expanding technical and vocational training, and increasing access to maternal and child healthcare and essential medicines.
The former governor said Nigeria’s regions should maximise their individual economic strengths.
He cited agriculture and agro-processing in parts of northern Nigeria, manufacturing and technology in the South-West, entrepreneurship and industry in the South-East, and oil and gas, maritime services, fisheries and agriculture in the South-South.
“Every region must produce. Every region must contribute. Every region must benefit,” he said.
Obi called on Nigerians to demand evidence behind campaign promises and evaluate presidential candidates based on their records, ideas and ability to deliver, rather than ethnicity, religion or political propaganda.
He said his campaign would focus on national unity, insecurity, poverty, education, healthcare and creating an economy capable of providing opportunities for citizens.
“My ultimate objective is to unite the country, defeat insecurity, reduce poverty and hunger, tackle the problem of out-of-school children, improve education and healthcare and create an economy that works for all Nigerians,” Obi said.
He described the 2027 election as an opportunity for Nigerians to carefully assess the candidates before deciding who should lead the country.
Obi concluded by declaring, “A New Nigeria is possible.”
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