Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate, has officially confirmed what many of his supporters had been hoping to hear—he’s running for president again in 2027. In a bold, forward-looking statement, Obi promised to offer Nigeria a new kind of leadership built on security, economic revival, and institutional integrity.
Speaking during a live interactive X (formerly Twitter) Space session with his supporters on Sunday night, Obi made it clear: “I will be on the ballot in 2027.”
His media spokesperson, Ibrahim Umar, followed up on Monday with an official statement, confirming Obi’s declaration and restating his readiness to serve only one term if that becomes a condition for a coalition government.
A Willingness to Serve—On Condition of Change
“If there is any form of agreement that will restrict me to four years in office, I will comply with the agreement and be ready to leave office by 28th May 2031,” Obi told listeners.
Although there have been growing rumours about a possible alliance between him and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Obi swiftly shut that down. “I have not joined in any form of discussion on joint tickets, including with Atiku,” he insisted. His focus, he said, is on Nigeria’s survival—not political games.
According to him, coalition talks are ongoing but must revolve around solving real problems: “If the coalition is not about stopping the killings in Benue and Zamfara, reviving the economy, putting food on the table… count me out.”
‘I Will Stabilize Nigeria in Two Years’
Obi, visibly concerned about the rising insecurity and hunger across Nigeria, pledged that if elected, he would bring stability to the country within his first two years in office. “Leaders of Nigeria should sit down in Nigeria and fix Nigeria,” he said.
His plan for the first 100 days in office is clear:
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Prioritize security, education, and poverty reduction
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Cut down government expenses
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Wage a decisive war against corruption
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Keep his family out of government deals
“My presidency will be different. My family will not be involved in corruption. Every kobo will go into fixing the country,”he said.
Labour Party, Power Rotation, and Internal Reforms
On party politics, Obi confirmed efforts to secure Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognition for the Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party faction, following a Supreme Court ruling.
He also stood firm on his belief in rotational governance: “I believe in the rotation of government between North and South. I implemented it in Anambra as governor.”
Furthermore, Obi promised to strengthen party politics by outlawing post-election defections: “No one will win an election under my presidency and jump to another party. We’ll make party structure stronger.”
Blasting Tinubu’s Foreign Trips Amid National Crisis
Obi didn’t hold back on President Bola Tinubu either. He condemned Tinubu’s 10-day trip to St. Lucia—a Caribbean island nation—as insensitive, especially when Nigerians are under siege.
“In two years, Tinubu hasn’t slept outside Lagos except for trips abroad. Now he’s spending eight nights in St. Lucia, a place smaller than Ajegunle,” Obi said, comparing the Caribbean island’s size to a Lagos suburb.
Campaign Promises and a Different 2027
Looking ahead to the next general elections, Obi vowed that 2027 would be different. He pledged a peaceful but firm campaign, with strong oversight on electoral conduct and result collation.
“Our campaign will be non-violent. But this time, we will make sure votes count—before any result is announced in Abuja.”
He ended with a personal note: “In Anambra, when there was trouble, I was physically present. If you want to serve Nigeria, you should be ready to risk your life for Nigerians.”
Obi’s track record as governor, his clear stance on governance, and his appeal to frustrated Nigerians appear to be laying the groundwork for what may become a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
