2027: Don’t Vote for Me Because I’m Igbo, Vote for Competence — Obi Tells Nigerians

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to reject ethnic sentiments and other forms of sectional politics ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that competence should determine their choice of leader.

Obi made the call on Thursday during an NDC town hall and stakeholders’ meeting at the Citi-Hub Centre, Mile 50, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

The former Anambra State governor urged his supporters in the South-East not to support him simply because he is from the region or belongs to the Igbo ethnic group, but because they believe he is qualified to lead Nigeria.

“Let nobody divide the South-East. I don’t want the people of Ebonyi to vote for me because I am from the South-East. I don’t want you to vote for me because I am an Igbo person,” he said.

“My dear people, I want you to vote for me because I am qualified to be the President of this country. I want you to vote for me because I am the leading candidate,” Obi added.

The NDC candidate also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, questioning its performance over the past three years and challenging the President to explain what his government had done for the people of Ebonyi State.

“I want President Tinubu to come to Abakaliki to tell the people what he has done in the past three years. I want him to come to Abakaliki to tell you what he used the money he has been borrowing to do for the past three years,” he said.

Obi further questioned the President’s reported time spent outside Nigeria, arguing that Tinubu should be able to travel across the country to account for his administration’s record.

He also called on the President to leave office, alleging that he lacked the competence and energy required to govern the country.

“President Tinubu does not have the competence to run Nigeria. He does not have the energy to run Nigeria. He should pack his things, go home and rest,” Obi said.

Outlining his priorities if elected in 2027, Obi pledged to focus on national unity, security, education, healthcare, the fight against corruption and increased food production.

On national unity, he promised to uphold the federal character principle in public appointments and employment, arguing that Nigeria must move beyond ethnic considerations in the distribution of opportunities.

“We must unite this country. Our pride should not be consideration of employment, this or that. We will operate federal character for all the jobs we have. So, we must unite the country,” he said.

On security, Obi promised to declare an emergency in the protection of lives and property, vowing to take decisive action against kidnappers and other criminal groups.

He specifically pledged to protect schoolchildren from abduction, warning that his administration would pursue those responsible for taking pupils into the bush.

“If I am President of this country, kids come to school and somebody takes them into the bush, we will be in the bush with such person. They will not be there alone, we will be there with those kids,” he said.

The former Anambra governor also promised to declare an emergency in the fight against corruption, insisting that public funds must be used for the benefit of Nigerians and that anyone found guilty of stealing public money would face prosecution, regardless of their position.

“We will declare emergency in corruption. I will fight corruption like nobody has fought it before. Public money must be used for public good, nobody will steal our money again. If you do it, you will go to jail starting from the President,” Obi said.

On education, he cited the estimated number of out-of-school children in Nigeria and pledged to reduce it through urgent government intervention.

“We will declare emergency in education. We have over 18 million children out of school, we must reduce it,” he added.

Obi’s remarks place national unity, public accountability, security and human development at the centre of his campaign message as political parties and prospective candidates prepare for the 2027 general elections.