2027: Obi flags off presidential campaign, says ‘Nigeria must work’

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has unveiled his campaign agenda for the 2027 general elections.

Obi pledged to “reset” Nigeria and tackle what he described as the country’s deepening economic and security woes.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday to mark the start of campaigns for next year’s elections, the former Anambra State governor said he was contesting alongside former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

NDC supporters say Kwankwaso will help Obi woo Northern voters while the he sweeps the South.

To win the presidency in 2027, Obi must withstand a challenge from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is contesting on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

He will then have to defeat the incumbent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is backed by most Nigerian governors, as they say his economic policies have made more money available to states for development projects.

Disagreeing with the pro-Tinubu governors, Obi said Nigeria was facing severe challenges, including poverty, food insecurity, displacement, unemployment, poor infrastructure, unstable electricity supply and the high cost of doing business.

“I enter this contest with one firm conviction: Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work,” Obi said.

“Nigeria faces several serious challenges. Some of them are indeed of existential proportions.”

He said the challenges were not abstract figures, but everyday realities for Nigerians.

“These are more than statistics. They reflect the daily realities of Nigerian families, farmers, workers, students, and businesses,” he said.

Obi insisted the country had enough human and material resources to overcome its problems.

“Yet I do not believe Nigeria lacks the ability to overcome these challenges. We have the people, resources, market, talent, and enterprise. What we must do now is turn these strengths into security, productivity, and shared prosperity,” he said.

The NDC candidate said his experience in the private sector and public office had shaped his leadership philosophy, adding that government must be accountable and results-driven.

“Government must manage resources responsibly, set clear priorities, and measure the outcomes of its decisions. Public office is not a reward; it is a responsibility to the people,” he said.

He said his tenure as Anambra governor prioritised education, healthcare, infrastructure, fiscal discipline and institutional capacity, while Kwankwaso’s record in Kano focused on education, technical training, scholarships, infrastructure and human capital development.

“Our experiences are different, but our conclusion is the same: Nigeria must invest in its people and manage public resources with discipline,” he said.

On the economy, Obi said his government would place production, investment, enterprise and human capital at the heart of national planning.

He said agriculture would receive priority through the securing of farming communities, expanded irrigation, better rural roads and storage facilities, and stronger links between farmers, finance and markets.

“We will also strengthen manufacturing and agro-processing so Nigeria can export more finished goods and capture greater value from its resources,” he said.

He added that his administration would create a business environment that allows firms to invest, employ and expand without unnecessary regulatory and infrastructure obstacles.

“And we will manage public finances responsibly. Every naira should have a clear purpose, and major public investments should have measurable outcomes,” he said.

“The goal is not growth for its own sake, but an economy that produces more, employs more people, creates wealth, and improves living standards.”

Obi also described security as the foundation of national prosperity, saying no country could develop while its people lived in fear.

“No nation can prosper when its people cannot live, farm, travel, or do business safely,” he said.

He promised improved intelligence gathering, better coordination among security agencies, stronger policing and border management, and increased use of technology.

“The imperative of decentralising security management, but with strong systems of coordination between the levels, is critical to our plans,” he added.