Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has challenged politicians seeking Nigeria’s presidency in 2027 to publicly present their credentials, defend their records and subject their policy proposals to scrutiny.
Obi issued the challenge on Friday while announcing the commencement of his campaign activities at a press conference in Onitsha, Anambra State. He said Nigerians deserved the opportunity to properly assess the people seeking to lead the country.
The former Anambra State governor argued that presidential candidates should engage directly with citizens instead of depending on political surrogates to explain their records or defend their positions.
He said candidates must be prepared to answer difficult questions about their previous performance, leadership experience and plans for addressing Nigeria’s challenges.
“Every candidate must be willing to present their credentials, defend their records, and subject their vision to open scrutiny,” Obi said.
Obi also stressed the importance of empathy and direct contact with Nigerians, particularly communities affected by insecurity, flooding and economic difficulties. He maintained that leaders must understand the realities facing citizens before they can effectively govern them.
On his campaign agenda, the NDC candidate highlighted security, agriculture, manufacturing and economic productivity as major areas of focus. He advocated moving Nigeria away from excessive dependence on consumption towards production and job creation.
The call is significant as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Candidates and political parties are increasingly presenting competing visions on how to address insecurity, unemployment, infrastructure deficits and economic pressures.
Obi also indicated that his campaign would take its message directly to Nigerians across the country, with an emphasis on national unity and issue-based politics.
The former governor was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023 and finished third in the election, according to official results. His current campaign under the NDC adds another dimension to an increasingly competitive 2027 political landscape, with voters expected to scrutinise the records and programmes of the major contenders.
