Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Party (NDP), Peter Obi, has formally launched his campaign for the 2027 presidential election, challenging his opponents to come before Nigerians and defend their records, policies and capacity to govern.
Obi spoke on Friday at a press conference held at his residence in Onitsha, Anambra State, as campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections officially commenced.
The former Anambra State governor said Nigerians should not be expected to entrust the country to candidates who avoid direct engagement with the electorate.
He particularly criticised the use of proxies and surrogates during political campaigns, insisting that presidential candidates should personally answer questions from voters.
“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 the election with Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate, said both men would personally take their message to Nigerians across the country.
According to him, leadership requires direct contact with citizens, particularly communities affected by insecurity, terrorism, criminality and natural disasters.
“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.”
‘Nigeria must work’
Obi said the 2027 election would give Nigerians the opportunity to examine the records, ideas and programmes of the various candidates before deciding who should lead the country.
He identified poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, internal displacement, insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, unreliable electricity and the high cost of doing business as major challenges confronting the country.
He nevertheless expressed optimism about Nigeria's prospects, arguing that the country possessed the human resources, natural resources, market and entrepreneurial capacity required to build a prosperous economy.
“Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work,” he said.
Obi said his proposed administration would move the country away from a consumption-based economy towards 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,” he said.
He listed agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction, energy, creative industries and services among the sectors that would receive priority under his administration.
He also promised to reduce the obstacles confronting businesses and create an environment conducive to investment, job creation and expansion.
Agriculture, security, education
Obi said agriculture would receive particular attention through improved security, irrigation, rural roads, storage infrastructure, financing and better access to markets.
He also pledged to promote manufacturing and agro-processing as part of efforts to increase domestic production and reduce dependence on imports.
On security, he said economic development could not be achieved when Nigerians were unable to farm, travel, trade or operate businesses safely.
He proposed better intelligence gathering, closer coordination among security agencies, stronger policing and border management, greater deployment of technology and lawful community-based mechanisms for identifying threats.
The NDP candidate also promised reforms in education, including improved basic education, stronger universities and expanded technical and vocational training.
In healthcare, he pledged to improve maternal and child health, expand access to essential medicines and strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers.
He described the country's poor health outcomes as a major impediment to human-capital development and productivity.
Regional economic strategy
Obi said his economic programme would allow each region to build on its comparative advantages while contributing to national development.
He said the North-West could expand agriculture, livestock, irrigation, agro-processing and manufacturing, while the North-East could focus on reconstruction, agriculture, education and enterprise.
For the North-Central, he identified food production and processing as key areas, alongside responsible development of mineral resources.
He said the South-West had significant opportunities 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.
For the South-South, he identified oil and gas, maritime services, fisheries and agriculture as areas capable of generating greater value, while calling for stronger environmental protection.
“Every region must produce. Every region must contribute. Every region must benefit,” he said.
Calls for issue-based politics
Obi urged voters to assess candidates based on their records and policy proposals rather than ethnicity, religion or political patronage.
He also called on Nigerians to demand evidence behind campaign promises and subject politicians to rigorous scrutiny.
“Our campaign will focus on the urgent concerns of Nigerians and not on ethnicity or religion,” he said.
He urged political actors to reject propaganda, ethnic and religious mobilisation, elitism and cronyism, warning against campaigns capable of deepening divisions in the country.
Obi said his key objectives would include strengthening national unity, tackling insecurity, reducing poverty and hunger, addressing the out-of-school children crisis, improving healthcare and education, and building an economy capable of creating opportunities 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,” he said.
“A New Nigeria is possible.”
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