Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Party, Peter Obi, has formally launched his campaign for the 2027 presidential election, urging all candidates seeking the nation’s highest office to publicly defend their records and engage directly with Nigerians.
Speaking at a press conference in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Friday, Obi said those aspiring to lead the country must present themselves before the electorate and answer questions about their qualifications, achievements and plans for governance.
He said, “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.
“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.”
The former Anambra State governor stressed the importance of direct engagement with citizens, arguing that effective leadership requires visibility, empathy and a clear understanding of the challenges facing communities across the country.
“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.
Obi, who is contesting alongside his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, pledged to personally take his campaign message to Nigerians and engage voters on issues affecting their daily lives.
He described the 2027 election as an opportunity for Nigerians to assess the records, ideas and policy proposals of those seeking public office amid economic and security challenges.
According to him, poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, weak infrastructure, insecurity, unreliable electricity supply and the high cost of doing business remain major obstacles to national development.
Obi said his administration would prioritise economic production, investment, agriculture, manufacturing, technology, energy and human-capital development to drive growth and create jobs.
“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.
The presidential candidate also promised reforms in education, healthcare and security, while advocating stronger intelligence gathering, improved policing and greater use of technology in tackling insecurity.
He called on voters to scrutinise candidates, demand accountability and focus on issues rather than ethnicity, religion or divisive politics.
“Our campaign will focus on the urgent concerns of Nigerians and not on ethnicity or religion,” Obi said, adding that “A New Nigeria is possible.”
