2027 Presidency: Obi Challenges Candidates to Defend Records, Face Nigerians

By Praise Chinecherem

ONITSHA, Anambra — Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has challenged all contenders in the 2027 presidential election to step out from behind what he described as the “high walls of power” and subject their records, credentials and policy proposals to direct scrutiny by Nigerians.

Obi made the call on Friday in Onitsha, Anambra State, at a press conference marking the commencement of the 2027 presidential and National Assembly campaigns.

He said Nigerians deserved the opportunity to hear directly from those seeking their mandate and assess their competence, character, records and vision before deciding who should lead the country.

According to him, presidential candidates should not rely on proxies or surrogates to engage the electorate while remaining distant from the communities they seek to govern.

“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 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.”

The former Anambra State governor argued that effective leadership requires physical presence and empathy, particularly in a country facing widespread insecurity, poverty, displacement and natural disasters.

“You cannot truly lead people you are unwilling to visit, listen to, and understand,” he said.

Obi, who is seeking the presidency alongside Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, pledged that he and his running mate would personally take their campaign to Nigerians across the country rather than delegate the responsibility to surrogates.

“My running mate and I will take our message directly to Nigerians. We will listen to them, understand their concerns, and engage them openly. We will not delegate this duty to proxies,” he said.

‘Nigeria Can Work, and Nigeria Must Work’

Obi said the 2027 election offered Nigerians an opportunity to critically examine the records, ideas and programmes of presidential candidates against the backdrop of the country’s economic and security challenges.

He declared that his central conviction remained that “Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work.”

He listed poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, internal displacement, weak infrastructure, unreliable electricity, insecurity and the high cost of doing business among the major challenges confronting the country.

However, Obi argued that Nigeria possesses the human and material resources needed to overcome its difficulties, citing its population, natural resources, market, talent and entrepreneurial capacity.

“What we must do now is turn these strengths into security, productivity, and shared prosperity,” he said.

The NDC candidate said his administration would seek to move Nigeria away from a predominantly consumption-driven economy towards one centred on 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,” Obi said.

He identified agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction, energy, the creative industries and services as key sectors that would receive priority under his proposed administration.

He also promised measures to strengthen agriculture through improved security, irrigation, rural roads, storage facilities, access to finance and markets, while promoting manufacturing and agro-processing.

On public expenditure, Obi said government spending must be tied to clear objectives and measurable outcomes.

“Every naira spent by government must have a clear purpose, and major public investments must produce measurable outcomes,” he said.

According to him, the ultimate objective should not merely be economic growth figures but an economy capable of producing more, creating jobs, generating wealth and improving living standards.

Security as Foundation for Development

Obi identified insecurity as one of the biggest threats to Nigeria’s economic development, noting that citizens cannot farm, trade, travel or invest effectively when their safety is not guaranteed.

He proposed stronger intelligence gathering and coordination among security agencies, improved policing and border management, greater deployment of technology and lawful community-based mechanisms for identifying threats early.

He also advocated greater decentralisation of security management, with effective coordination between the federal, state and local governments.

Beyond military and policing measures, Obi said security policy must address the socioeconomic conditions that make vulnerable young people susceptible to criminal recruitment.

Youth, Education and Healthcare

The NDC presidential candidate described Nigeria’s youthful population as a major economic opportunity rather than a burden.

He pledged to strengthen basic education, improve universities and expand technical and vocational training.

“Nigeria needs not only doctors, engineers, scientists and lawyers, but also technicians, mechanics, builders, nurses, farmers, programmers, manufacturers, artisans and entrepreneurs,” he said.

He said his administration would seek to harness Nigeria’s demographic advantage by building a workforce equipped with practical skills required for a productive economy.

Obi also pledged to strengthen the healthcare system, with emphasis on maternal and child health, access to essential medicines and improved working conditions and capacity for healthcare professionals.

He said Nigeria’s poor health indicators remained a major obstacle to human-capital development and economic productivity.

Regional Economic Development

Obi proposed a development strategy that would allow each region to maximise its comparative advantages while contributing to a productive national economy.

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, processing and responsible development of mineral resources as areas of potential growth.

He said the South-West could further leverage its strengths in manufacturing, technology, finance, trade and the creative economy.

The South-East, he said, could build on its entrepreneurial and industrial base through improved infrastructure, connectivity and access to investment.

For the South-South, Obi identified oil and gas, maritime services, fisheries and agriculture as sectors with significant potential for value creation, alongside stronger environmental protection.

“Every region must produce. Every region must contribute. Every region must benefit,” he declared.

Obi: 2027 Must Be About Competence, Not Ethnicity

Obi urged Nigerians to make the 2027 election a contest of competence, capacity, character, compassion and commitment, rather than ethnicity or religion.

He encouraged voters to scrutinise candidates’ records, question their policy proposals and demand evidence to support campaign promises.

He also called for issue-based campaigns devoid of hatred and violence, urging all political actors to respect the outcome of the election.

“Nigerians must reject and disregard any campaign driven by propaganda, ethnicity, religion, elitism, or cronyism,” he said.

Obi said his ultimate objective was to unite Nigeria, defeat insecurity, reduce poverty and hunger, tackle the problem of out-of-school children, improve education and healthcare, and build an economy that works for all Nigerians.

He described the 2027 campaign as the beginning of a journey to “reset Nigeria” by securing the country, strengthening national unity and placing the economy on a path of inclusive growth.

“A New Nigeria is possible,” Obi declared.