Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has declared his intention to run for president in 2027.
If elected, Obi stated, he would be content to serve a single four-year term.
Speaking during a live session on X Spaces on Sunday night, he made the announcement while answering questions from followers in Nigeria and abroad.
In a statement released on Monday by his spokesman, Ibrahim Umar of the Peter Obi Media Reach, Obi dismissed claims of a possible joint ticket with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
He acknowledged that he would be amenable to coalition talks, but only if they were centred on resolving Nigeria’s fundamental issues.
“If the coalition is not about stopping the killings in Benue, Zamfara, how to revive our economy, how to make our industries productive, how to put food on the tables of Nigerians… Count me out. Nigeria is currently at war. We need to do something about it,” Obi said.
He also promised to stabilise Nigeria within two years of his administration and urged Nigerians to join him in the mission to rescue the nation.
“I will bring stability in Nigeria within two years in office. Leaders of Nigeria should sit down in Nigeria and fix Nigeria,” he added.
Speaking on the crisis within the Labour Party, Obi revealed that efforts were ongoing to secure the Independent National Electoral Commission’s recognition for the Nenadi Usman-led faction in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
On power rotation, Obi stated, “I believe in the rotation of government between North and South. I implemented it in Anambra as a governor.”
Commenting on President Bola Tinubu’s reported trip to St. Lucia, Obi criticised the President’s domestic absence, saying, “St Lucia is about the size of the 10th largest city of Nigeria, Ilorin. President Tinubu has never slept a night in any state of Nigeria outside Lagos since the assumption of office in 2023. PBAT to stay in St Lucia for 10 days.”
Obi stated that his strategy for 2027 would be non-violent and transparency oriented.
He stated, “We will do things differently in 2027. We will follow a non-violent approach and insist that the right thing will be done before the result announcement in Abuja. Our votes in 2027 will count, and we will ensure they count.”
He outlined three priorities for his first 100 days in office: security, education, and poverty reduction.
“My family will not be involved in corruption. Funds to be channelled into key critical sectors,” he said.
Obi promised to promote strong party opposition and end party-switching by elected officials.
“There will be no defection of elected officials to other parties when I am in charge,” he asserted.
He criticised the current administration for misaligned priorities, saying, “Imagine in this country, people are dying in Benue, Borno, and other parts of the country], and our leaders are commissioning bus stops and holidaying.”
He called for responsible governance and integrity.
“To bring order in governance, I will prioritise security, education and pulling people out of poverty. To do this is by cutting the cost of governance and fighting corruption from day one.
“My past speaks loudly for me. Wherever there was an issue in Anambra State, I was there physically. Anybody who wants to serve should be ready to put their life on the line for the lives of Nigerians.
Nobody abroad takes you seriously if you don’t have a stable government.”
