Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has formally launched his campaign for the 2027 presidential election, calling on all candidates seeking Nigeria’s top political office to present themselves before voters and defend their records, policies and capacity to govern.
Obi made the call on Friday during a press conference at his residence in Onitsha, Anambra State, as campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections got underway.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Party said Nigerians deserved direct engagement with those seeking their votes, urging candidates not to rely on representatives during the campaign.
He said presidential aspirants should face voters, respond to their concerns and allow their records and policy proposals to be publicly scrutinised.
“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,” Obi said.
He also stressed the importance of physical presence and empathy in leadership, arguing that political leaders must visit communities affected by insecurity, terrorism, criminality and natural disasters to understand the challenges confronting residents.
Obi said he and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, would personally travel across the country to engage Nigerians and listen to their concerns rather than delegate the responsibility to political surrogates.
Obi Outlines Economic Agenda
The former Anambra governor said the 2027 election would give Nigerians an opportunity to examine the records, ideas and programmes of presidential candidates amid the country’s economic and security challenges.
He identified poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, internal displacement, inadequate infrastructure, unreliable electricity, insecurity and the high cost of doing business as some of Nigeria’s major challenges.
Despite these difficulties, Obi maintained that Nigeria had the human resources, natural resources, market and entrepreneurial capacity needed to build a stronger economy.
He said his proposed administration would focus on moving the country away from excessive consumption towards 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,” he said.
Obi listed agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction, energy, creative industries and services among the sectors he would prioritise.
He also proposed improving agricultural security, irrigation, rural roads, storage facilities, access to finance and markets, while supporting manufacturing and agro-processing.
On public spending, he said government expenditure must be tied to clear objectives and measurable results.
Security, Education and Healthcare
Obi described insecurity as a major barrier to Nigeria’s economic development, saying citizens must be able to farm, travel, trade and conduct businesses safely.
He proposed stronger intelligence gathering and coordination among security agencies, improved policing and border management, greater deployment of technology and lawful community-based systems for early detection of security threats.
In education, he pledged to strengthen basic education, improve universities and expand technical and vocational training.
He also promised greater investment in healthcare, including maternal and child health, access to essential medicines and improved working conditions and equipment for healthcare professionals.
According to Obi, Nigeria’s poor health outcomes continue to undermine human-capital development and economic productivity.
Regional Development
Obi said his proposed development strategy would allow each region to maximise its economic strengths while contributing to national growth.
He identified agriculture, livestock, irrigation, agro-processing and manufacturing as areas of potential growth in the North-West, while the North-East, he said, could focus on reconstruction, agriculture, education and enterprise.
For the North-Central, Obi highlighted food production, processing and responsible mineral development.
He said the South-West could build on manufacturing, technology, finance, trade and the creative economy, while the South-East could strengthen its entrepreneurial and industrial base through improved infrastructure and investment.
In the South-South, he identified oil and gas, maritime services, fisheries and agriculture as sectors with opportunities for greater value creation, alongside environmental protection.
“Every region must produce. Every region must contribute. Every region must benefit,” Obi said.
Obi Calls for Issue-Based Campaign
The presidential candidate urged voters to scrutinise the records and programmes of all candidates and demand evidence to support campaign promises.
He also called for an issue-driven campaign free from violence, hatred, ethnic divisions and religious sentiments.
“Our campaign will focus on the urgent concerns of Nigerians and not on ethnicity or religion,” he said.
Obi urged Nigerians to reject campaigns based on propaganda, ethnicity, religion, elitism and cronyism.
He said his ultimate objective was to unite the country, tackle insecurity, reduce poverty and hunger, address the problem of out-of-school children, improve education and healthcare, and build an economy that works for Nigerians.
“The campaign will mark the beginning of a journey to reset Nigeria by uniting the country, securing it and placing it on the path of inclusive economic growth. A New Nigeria is possible,” Obi declared.
