Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has accepted the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential ticket for the 2027 election and named former Kano State Governor Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate.
Obi accepted the nomination on Saturday in Abuja and thanked NDC leaders and members for entrusting him with the party’s presidential ticket.
Furthermore, he said the moment was bigger than his personal ambition.
According to him, the nomination concerns Nigeria’s future and the hopes of millions of citizens facing hardship.
“This pivotal moment transcends the individual ambitions of Peter Obi; it concerns the essence of our nation and the future of our children,” he said.
Obi also declared that “a New Nigeria is Possible” and urged Nigerians to remain hopeful despite current challenges.
He described Nigeria as a country at a critical point, while citing insecurity, economic hardship and declining public confidence in governance as major concerns.
However, he stressed that Nigeria cannot move forward if citizens remain divided along ethnic, religious and regional lines.
He said Nigerians may speak different languages and practise different faiths, but they share a common destiny.
On security, Obi promised to deploy intelligence-driven and technology-based strategies to tackle crime and terrorism.
He also pledged to strengthen security institutions, improve coordination among agencies and address poverty, unemployment and marginalisation.
In his response to concerns about healthcare, Obi promised to increase health insurance coverage from about 10 per cent to more than 20 per cent within four years.
He pledged to raise healthcare spending to at least 10 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He also promised functional primary healthcare centres in all 8,809 wards across the country.
On education, Obi said investment in human capital would remain a key priority. He pledged increased funding for schools, teachers, technology and vocational training to equip young Nigerians with practical skills.
Addressing food insecurity, Obi described Nigeria’s position among the world’s hungriest nations as unacceptable despite its vast agricultural potential.
Obi called for major investment in agriculture to shift the country from consumption to production. He said uncultivated land in Northern Nigeria remains one of the country’s biggest assets.
Obi also pledged to address Nigeria’s power challenges. He promised an additional 10,000 megawatts of electricity generation and distribution within four years.
On employment, he said his administration would support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through tax incentives, affordable financing and targeted interventions.
He promised to reduce corruption and cut the cost of governance through transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources.
Obi also pledged to uphold the rule of law and strengthen democratic institutions.
According to him, democracy must reflect the true will of the people without interference from the ruling party.
In addition, he noted that his administration would promote inclusive governance, describing the vice president’s office as a strategic partner in national development rather than a ceremonial position.
“I hereby accept my nomination and nominate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as my Vice President,” Obi declared.
He ended his speech by calling on Nigerians to unite in building a better nation and prayed for the progress of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
External Links
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)�
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