The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has assured supporters of his readiness to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Obi made the declaration in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during the OBIDIENT Conference and official declaration for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), themed “Activating the PO Effect in ADC.”
He urged Nigerians to join hands with him to “rescue Nigeria” for future generations, warning that decades of poor governance have placed the country on a troubling path.
Obi alleged that he had it on “good authority” that the Federal Government does not want him to contest but insisted he would participate in the 2027 election regardless of any obstacles.
“I want to assure you that I will contest the coming election even if it holds in their bedroom and if they don’t want to transmit the results, we will transmit it for them,” he said.
Explaining his departure from the Labour Party, Obi said:
“Democracy must work. I left Labour Party when I got informed that as long as I remain in the party, INEC will not recognise its leadership, that the Federal Government doesn’t want me on ballot paper.”
He stressed that Nigeria must “get it right” in 2027 and advocated for real-time electronic transmission of election results to enhance transparency.
The former Anambra State governor accused the current administration of borrowing more than previous governments combined, noting that much of the repayment burden would fall between 2045 and 2050.
Obi pledged that if elected, his administration would invest heavily in education and healthcare, arguing that nations achieve greatness through sustained investment in human capital.
He also promised to prioritise poverty reduction as a strategy to curb criminality and said he would tour tertiary institutions across the country to assess their challenges firsthand.
“I want to help fix Nigeria now that I have the strength to undertake any difficult task,” he stated, urging supporters to focus on the future and well-being of citizens.
Reiterating his anti-corruption stance, Obi said corruption could be significantly reduced if leaders and their families refrain from involvement in public funds.
“When I became governor of Anambra State, I advised my wife to forget about the office of first lady because we were not elected together. I approved over 100 Certificates of Occupancy of government lands, but have none for myself or my family. If you find any, petition me to the appropriate authority,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, Obidient Movement Worldwide Coordinator Tanko Yunusa urged Nigerians to mobilise nationwide ahead of 2027 and channel their efforts through the ADC. Akwa Ibom State Coordinator Ben Smith similarly called for unity among members, warning that internal divisions could derail the vision of building a new Nigeria.
Obi’s declaration signals an early and assertive entry into the 2027 race, setting the stage for what could be another fiercely contested presidential election.
