Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has formally kicked off his campaign for the 2027 presidential election, challenging every candidate seeking Nigeria’s highest office to personally face citizens, defend their records and subject their plans for the country to open public scrutiny.
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Obi, who spoke at a press conference on Friday to flag off his campaign, said anyone aspiring to become President must be willing to present his or her credentials and answer questions directly from Nigerians rather than relying on representatives, proxies or political surrogates.
“Every candidate must be willing to present their credentials, defend their records, and subject their vision to open scrutiny,” Obi said.
According to the former Anambra State governor, candidates should not expect Nigerians to entrust them with the leadership of the country while avoiding direct engagement with the electorate.
“No candidate should hide behind the high walls of power, send proxies or surrogates… and expect Nigerians to entrust them with leadership of their country,” he said.
“Every candidate that seeks the presidency must have the courage to come before the people, answer their questions, defend their records, and subject their vision to public scrutiny.”
Obi said leadership requires more than campaign promises, arguing that those seeking to govern Nigeria must demonstrate physical presence, empathy and willingness to stand with citizens, particularly those affected by insecurity, terrorism, banditry, criminality and natural disasters.
He maintained that a leader cannot credibly claim to lead from the front while remaining distant from communities devastated by violence, displacement or flooding.
“You cannot truly lead a people you are unwilling to visit, listen to, and understand,” he said.
Obi consequently pledged that he and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso would take their campaign directly to Nigerians across the country rather than delegate the responsibility of explaining their programme to others.
“Today, I make a clear commitment that I and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso will take our message directly to Nigerians. We will listen to them, understand their concerns, and engage them openly. We will not delegate this process,” he said.
“We will answer the questions, defend our record and character, and present our plan to rebuild Nigeria.”
The NDC presidential candidate argued that willingness to travel across the country and engage citizens directly should be considered an important test of the capacity of anyone seeking the presidency.
According to him, a candidate unwilling to move around Nigeria, meet citizens and personally engage with their concerns before an election would struggle to demonstrate the capacity required to govern the country effectively.
Obi said his campaign would focus on what he described as resetting Nigeria through national unity, improved security, economic transformation and inclusive growth.
He pledged to pursue policies aimed at moving the country away from an economy largely driven by consumption towards one anchored on production.
He said he was committed to beginning the journey of “resetting Nigeria by uniting it, securing it, on the path of economic and inclusive growth, and moving our country from consumption to production.”
The campaign launch sets the stage for Obi’s 2027 presidential bid, with the former governor placing direct public engagement, scrutiny of candidates’ records and accountability at the centre of his campaign message.
His challenge also signals that the NDC campaign intends to press rival presidential candidates to personally participate in public engagements where Nigerians can scrutinise their past records, character and proposals for governing the country.
Obi maintained that he and Kwankwaso would personally take their message to Nigerians, listen to citizens and defend their plans and records as the campaign progresses, insisting that seeking the presidency must involve direct accountability to the people whose mandate candidates are asking to receive.
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