The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has confirmed he will contest the 2027 presidential election and pledged to serve only a single four-year term if elected.
Obi made this known on Sunday night during a live session on X Spaces, where he fielded questions from supporters at home and abroad. In a statement released Monday by his spokesman, Ibrahim Umar of the Peter Obi Media Reach, Obi dismissed rumours of running on a joint ticket with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar but said he was open to coalition talks focused solely on solving Nigeria’s key challenges.
“If the coalition is not about stopping the killings in Benue and Zamfara, reviving the economy, making industries productive, and putting food on Nigerians’ tables, count me out. Nigeria is at war. We need to act,” he said.
Obi promised to stabilise the country within two years of his administration and urged Nigerians to join him in the mission to rescue the nation. “I will bring stability within two years in office. Leaders should stay in Nigeria to fix Nigeria,” he added.
Addressing the internal crisis in the Labour Party, Obi revealed that efforts were ongoing to secure INEC’s recognition for the Nenadi Usman-led faction, in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
On power rotation, Obi reiterated his belief in zoning, citing his implementation of it as governor of Anambra State.
He also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s reported trip to St. Lucia, comparing the island to Ilorin and pointing out that Tinubu has yet to spend a night in any Nigerian state other than Lagos since assuming office. “Imagine people dying in Benue and Borno, while our leaders commission bus stops and go on holidays,” he said.
Regarding the 2027 election, Obi promised a peaceful, transparent campaign. “We will do things differently in 2027. It will be non-violent. The right thing must be done before results are announced in Abuja. Our votes will count,” he declared.
Outlining his priorities, Obi listed security, education, and poverty reduction as key focus areas for his first 100 days in office. He assured that his family would not be involved in corruption and pledged to direct funds into critical sectors.
He vowed to strengthen party opposition, end defection by elected officials, and cut the cost of governance. “There will be no defection when I’m in charge. My past speaks loudly for me. I always showed up physically wherever there was an issue in Anambra. Leaders should be ready to put their lives on the line for Nigerians. Nobody abroad takes you seriously without stable governance,” he added.
ADEOLA KUNLE
