The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obihas challenged President Bola Tinubu and other contenders in the 2027 presidential election to stand before Nigerians and defend their record and policy proposals.
Obi made the call on Friday while speaking at a global conference held to mark the beginning of the 2027 presidential and National Assembly campaign season.
The former governor of Anambra State said candidates seeking the presidency should not rely on proxies or surrogates during the campaign, insisting that those soliciting Nigerians for their votes must be prepared to interact directly with the electorate.
According to him, voters deserve the opportunity to question presidential candidates about their background, plans and ability to govern.
“No candidate should hide behind the high walls of power, send representatives or surrogates to elections and expect Nigerians to entrust them with the leadership of the country,” Obi said.
He urged all presidential hopefuls to appear before voters, answer their questions and submit their programs to public scrutiny.
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“Any candidate seeking the presidency must have the courage to stand before the people, answer their questions, defend their record, and subject their vision to public scrutiny,” he added.
Obi said the 2027 elections should give Nigerians the opportunity to assess the competence, character, capacity and policy proposals of the candidates before making their choice.
The NDC candidate said effective leadership required politicians to interact directly with the people, particularly communities affected by insecurity, terrorism, banditry, crime and floods.
He said leaders could not fully understand the challenges faced by Nigerians without visiting the affected communities and listening to their experiences.
“True leadership requires presence and empathy. No one can lead from the front without supporting communities across Nigeria devastated by banditry, crime, terrorism and floods.
“You can’t really lead people you’re not willing to visit, listen to, and understand,” Obi said.
He also promised to embark on a nationwide campaign with his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, promising that the two would personally engage voters rather than leave responsibility to political surrogates.
“Today I make this commitment clear: my running mate and I will take our message directly to Nigerians. We will listen to them, understand their concerns and engage openly. We will not delegate this duty to representatives,” he said.
Obi said the 2027 race should focus on ability, competence, compassion, character and commitment rather than ethnicity, religion, elitism or political patronage.
He urged Nigerians to examine the background and policy proposals of all candidates before deciding who should govern the country.
The former Anambra governor identified poverty, unemployment, insecurity, weak infrastructure and rising cost of living among the major challenges facing the country.
However, he maintained that Nigeria had the necessary human and natural resources to overcome its difficulties.
On the economy, Obi said his proposed administration would prioritize production, investment and human capital development.
It listed agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction, energy and the creative industry as sectors that could drive economic growth and create jobs.
He also called for increased intelligence gathering, better coordination among security agencies, better border management, technology-driven policing and decentralized security management to address insecurity.
According to him, insecurity has become an economic challenge because farmers cannot access their farms safely, children cannot attend school and businesses cannot operate effectively in affected communities.
Obi also promised greater investment in education, healthcare, and technical and vocational training, and described Nigeria’s young population as an economic opportunity rather than a burden.
He said his administration would seek to move the country from consumption to production by strengthening local manufacturing, processing agricultural products and creating an enabling environment for investment and job creation.
The NDC candidate further appealed to political parties and their supporters to ensure that the 2027 campaign is conducted peacefully.
“We must debate ideas without hate, compete without violence and disagree without weakening the ties that unite us. When Nigerians make their choice, that choice must be respected,” he said.
Obi said democratic participation should continue beyond election day, and urged citizens to demand transparency, accountability and results from elected officials.
Reflecting on his experience in the private sector and as governor of Anambra State, he said his experience had equipped him with knowledge on public finance, institutional management and development.
He said he was entering the 2027 presidential race with the belief that “Nigeria can work and Nigeria must work.”
“Our task is to convert these possibilities into results. We have the credentials, experience and track record to partner with Nigerians on this transformative journey,” he said.
Obi concluded by pledging to begin what he described as the process of resetting Nigeria by uniting the country, improving security, promoting inclusive economic growth and moving the nation from consumption to production.
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