Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s Presidential candidate in the 2023 General Election, has officially declared his intention to contest the 2027 Presidential Election. This move effectively puts to rest speculation about a potential alliance with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who many expected might run on a joint ticket with Obi.
Obi made the announcement during a live X Spaces session on Sunday night, where he addressed questions from both Nigerian and international supporters. His declaration follows growing calls within his political base, reportedly influenced by investigative journalist Ben Hundeyin, urging him to clarify his political intentions.
In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Ibrahim Umar of the Peter Obi Media Reach, Obi dismissed any possibility of running alongside Atiku. However, he expressed openness to coalition talks—on the condition that such alliances focus on resolving Nigeria’s most urgent challenges.
“If the coalition is not about stopping the killings in Benue, Zamfara, reviving our economy, making our industries productive, or putting food on people’s tables, then count me out,” Obi stated. “Nigeria is at war, and something urgent must be done.”
Obi also made a bold promise: if elected, he would bring stability to the country within the first two years of his administration. He called on Nigerians to rally behind him to “rescue the nation.”
“I will bring stability to Nigeria within two years. Our leaders need to remain in Nigeria and fix Nigeria,” he added.
Addressing Labour Party Crisis
On internal disputes within the Labour Party, Obi confirmed that efforts are underway to secure Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognition for the Nenadi Usman-led faction, in accordance with a Supreme Court judgment.
Stance on Power Rotation and Tinubu’s Travel
Reaffirming his support for political power rotation, Obi said, “I believe in rotating leadership between the North and South. I practiced it in Anambra State when I was Governor.”
He also took a swipe at President Bola Tinubu over his recent overseas trip to St. Lucia, criticizing the President’s frequent absences from Nigeria.
“St. Lucia is about the size of Ilorin, Nigeria’s 10th largest city. Since taking office, President Tinubu has never spent a night outside Lagos in any Nigerian state, but is now vacationing in St. Lucia for 10 days,” Obi noted.
A New Strategy for 2027
Obi pledged to adopt a non-violent approach in his 2027 campaign, emphasizing a transparent process and the need for credible elections.
“We’ll do things differently in 2027. There will be no violence. We will demand that the right procedures are followed before results are announced in Abuja. Our votes will count, and we’ll ensure they count,” he said.
He outlined his top three priorities for the first 100 days in office: security, education, and poverty reduction.
“My family will not engage in corruption. Every public fund will be directed to critical sectors,” he assured.
Pushing for Political Reform
Obi also promised to strengthen political opposition and end party defection by elected officials.
“There will be no defection of elected officials under my leadership,” he declared.
Criticizing the current administration’s misplaced priorities, Obi said, “People are dying in Benue and Borno, yet our leaders are commissioning bus stops and going on vacations. That’s unacceptable.”
A Call for Responsible Leadership
“To restore order in governance, we must focus on security, education, and lifting people out of poverty. This begins with reducing the cost of governance and fighting corruption from day one,” he said.
“My record in Anambra speaks for itself. I was always present where there were issues. If you want to lead Nigerians, you must be ready to risk your life for them.”
He concluded by stressing the importance of stable leadership, adding, “No one abroad will take you seriously without a stable Government at home.”