Peter Obi: Nigeria Needs Unifying Leader Ahead of 2027
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 general elections, Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to prioritise national unity and elect a leader capable of bringing the country together.
Obi said Nigeria could not achieve meaningful development while deeply divided along ethnic, religious and regional lines, stressing the need for a president who would unite citizens and tackle the country’s economic and security challenges.
The former Anambra State governor spoke during a global digital town hall meeting held virtually on Sunday, where he addressed Nigerians at home and abroad on voter mobilisation, election security and measures to safeguard the electoral process ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“Our country needs unity,” Obi declared.
In a statement issued on Monday by the spokesman of the Peter Obi Media Office, POMR, Idris Zekeri, the NDC candidate said Nigerians were facing similar economic hardships and security challenges regardless of their ethnic or religious identities.
“At present, we are not united. We are divided along ethnic and religious lines, yet, to the best of my knowledge, no tribe buys bread at a lower price, and no tribe buys fuel at a lower price.
“Similarly, no religion buys bread or fuel at a lower price. The poverty affecting our country today is widespread across the entire nation.
“No tribe enjoys greater security than another. Insecurity affects every part of the country. This is the same point I have consistently made,” he said.
Obi maintained that Nigeria needed a president who would unite the people and demonstrate strong leadership in confronting insecurity.
He also urged his supporters to intensify voter mobilisation and ensure adequate deployment of polling agents across the country, saying citizens must remain actively involved throughout the electoral process.
According to him, his campaign is expanding its network of polling agents while engaging with other political parties to promote free, fair and credible elections.
The former governor further warned Nigerians against allowing money or intimidation to determine their choices at the polls, stressing that accepting inducements could have serious long-term consequences for the country.
“If you accept money from them, that is money they would otherwise have spent on security, hospitals and education,” he said.
On insecurity, Obi called for stronger support for security agencies through improved logistics, equipment and welfare.
“We have security agencies, and they must function effectively. We must provide them with the logistics they need to perform their duties and ensure that we stand by them,” he said.
He added that the families of security personnel must also be adequately cared for whenever officers are killed, injured or become unavailable as a result of their duties.
“We need a president who will lead from the front,” Obi stated.
The NDC candidate also urged voters to remain at their polling units after casting their ballots until the votes are counted, stressing that active citizen participation would be crucial to protecting the integrity of the 2027 elections.
He called on Nigerians to take responsibility for safeguarding their votes from the polling unit through the collation process to the final declaration of results.
Obi said Nigeria could not achieve meaningful development while deeply divided along ethnic, religious and regional lines, stressing the need for a president who would unite citizens and tackle the country’s economic and security challenges.
The former Anambra State governor spoke during a global digital town hall meeting held virtually on Sunday, where he addressed Nigerians at home and abroad on voter mobilisation, election security and measures to safeguard the electoral process ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“Our country needs unity,” Obi declared.
In a statement issued on Monday by the spokesman of the Peter Obi Media Office, POMR, Idris Zekeri, the NDC candidate said Nigerians were facing similar economic hardships and security challenges regardless of their ethnic or religious identities.
“At present, we are not united. We are divided along ethnic and religious lines, yet, to the best of my knowledge, no tribe buys bread at a lower price, and no tribe buys fuel at a lower price.
“Similarly, no religion buys bread or fuel at a lower price. The poverty affecting our country today is widespread across the entire nation.
“No tribe enjoys greater security than another. Insecurity affects every part of the country. This is the same point I have consistently made,” he said.
Obi maintained that Nigeria needed a president who would unite the people and demonstrate strong leadership in confronting insecurity.
He also urged his supporters to intensify voter mobilisation and ensure adequate deployment of polling agents across the country, saying citizens must remain actively involved throughout the electoral process.
According to him, his campaign is expanding its network of polling agents while engaging with other political parties to promote free, fair and credible elections.
The former governor further warned Nigerians against allowing money or intimidation to determine their choices at the polls, stressing that accepting inducements could have serious long-term consequences for the country.
“If you accept money from them, that is money they would otherwise have spent on security, hospitals and education,” he said.
On insecurity, Obi called for stronger support for security agencies through improved logistics, equipment and welfare.
“We have security agencies, and they must function effectively. We must provide them with the logistics they need to perform their duties and ensure that we stand by them,” he said.
He added that the families of security personnel must also be adequately cared for whenever officers are killed, injured or become unavailable as a result of their duties.
“We need a president who will lead from the front,” Obi stated.
The NDC candidate also urged voters to remain at their polling units after casting their ballots until the votes are counted, stressing that active citizen participation would be crucial to protecting the integrity of the 2027 elections.
He called on Nigerians to take responsibility for safeguarding their votes from the polling unit through the collation process to the final declaration of results.
