The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to prioritise hunger, insecurity, education, corruption and healthcare if elected president in 2027, while warning against attempts to divide the South-East along political or ethnic lines.
Obi made the pledge on Thursday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, while addressing party supporters at a political summit, where he urged voters to assess presidential candidates based on their competence and capacity to govern rather than ethnic affiliations.
He said he was seeking the electorate’s mandate as a Nigerian qualified to lead the country, insisting that voters in the South-East should not support him merely because he is from the region.
“Let nobody divide the South-East. I don’t want the people of Ebonyi to vote for me because I am from the region. I don’t want you to vote for me because I am an Igbo person,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor also criticised President Bola Tinubu over his commitment to campaigning ahead of the 2027 general election, questioning the president’s explanation that governance responsibilities might prevent him from visiting all 36 states.
Obi argued that Tinubu’s reported inability to campaign across the federation raised questions about his capacity to manage the country’s affairs. He challenged the president to visit Abakaliki and explain his administration’s achievements over the past three years, particularly how borrowed funds had been utilised.
The NDC candidate further outlined his proposed priorities, promising to declare emergencies in critical sectors if elected.
On national unity, he said his administration would work to reduce ethnic divisions and promote a common Nigerian identity, arguing that the country’s challenges required collective action rather than regional or ethnic competition.
Addressing insecurity, Obi promised to strengthen security agencies and improve their capacity to protect citizens, including schoolchildren vulnerable to abduction.
He said his administration would pursue those responsible for kidnapping children and other criminal activities, while equipping security agencies to respond more effectively to threats.
On corruption, the presidential candidate pledged to ensure that public funds were used for their intended purposes and warned that anyone found guilty of embezzling public money would face prosecution and imprisonment in accordance with the law.
Obi also promised urgent action on education, citing the large number of Nigerian children who remain out of school. He said reducing the out-of-school population would be a priority under his proposed administration.
On food security, he pledged to address hunger by supporting farmers and encouraging them to return to their farms, while promising measures to tackle the challenges confronting agricultural production.
The former governor also identified healthcare and electricity as sectors requiring urgent intervention, promising to restore functional healthcare services across Nigeria’s political wards and address the country’s persistent power challenges.
Obi’s remarks come as political parties and their candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 general election, with the economy, security, public accountability and access to essential services expected to feature prominently in the campaign.
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