Photo: Peter Obi
By: Mandy Park
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to prioritise national unity in the 2027 presidential election, saying the country needs a leader capable of bridging its ethnic, religious and regional divides.
Obi said Nigeria could not achieve meaningful development as long as its citizens remained divided along ethnic and religious lines, stressing that the challenges confronting Nigerians affected citizens across the country irrespective of their backgrounds.
The former Anambra State governor spoke on Sunday during a global digital town hall meeting streamed live on Zoom, YouTube and other social media platforms.
The engagement, according to a statement issued on Monday by the spokesman for the Peter Obi Media Relations team, Idris Zekeri Jnr, focused on voter mobilisation, election security, protection of votes and grassroots participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi said, “Our country needs unity. At present, we are not united. We are divided along ethnic and religious lines, yet, to the best of my knowledge, no tribe buys bread at a lower price, and no tribe buys fuel at a lower price.
“Similarly, no religion buys bread or fuel at a lower price. The poverty affecting our country today is widespread across the entire nation.
“No tribe enjoys greater security than another. Insecurity affects every part of the country. This is the same point I have consistently made.”
The NDC candidate maintained that Nigerians needed a president who would unite the country and provide decisive leadership in tackling insecurity and other challenges confronting the nation.
He said national leadership should go beyond political, ethnic or religious considerations, arguing that the welfare and security of Nigerians should remain the primary concern of whoever emerges president in 2027.
Obi also called on voters who wanted their preferred candidates elected to take responsibility for protecting their votes, urging them not to leave polling units immediately after casting their ballots.
He advised voters to remain at their polling units until the votes had been counted and the results properly recorded, stressing that active citizen participation was essential to ensuring credible elections.
The former governor said his campaign organisation was working to expand its network of polling agents across the country, while also seeking collaboration with other political parties and stakeholders to promote free, fair and credible elections.
He urged Nigerians to mobilise eligible voters in their communities and ensure adequate representation at polling units on election day.
Obi also cautioned voters against allowing money or intimidation to influence their choices at the polls.
He argued that accepting money in exchange for votes could ultimately work against the interests of the electorate because such funds could otherwise be used to provide public services.
“If you accept money from them, that is money they would otherwise have spent on security, hospitals, and education,” Obi said.
On insecurity, the NDC presidential candidate called for stronger support for the nation’s security agencies, including adequate logistics, equipment and welfare packages for personnel.
He said security personnel must be given the resources required to effectively protect Nigerians, adding that the government should also make adequate provisions for the families of officers who die or become incapacitated in the line of duty.
“We have security agencies, and they must function effectively. We must provide them with the logistics they need to perform their duties and ensure that we stand by them.
“We must make certain that they are properly equipped and that their families are cared for if anything happens to them or they become unavailable. We need a president who will lead from the front,” he said.
Obi’s emphasis on voter mobilisation and protection of ballots comes as political parties and aspirants intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission is expected to play a central role in the conduct of the elections, while political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders have continued to advocate stronger measures to ensure transparency and credibility in the electoral process.
Obi urged Nigerians to remain engaged throughout the electoral process, insisting that citizens must not only vote but also ensure that their votes are properly counted and recorded.
The digital town hall formed part of his ongoing mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with national unity, voter participation, election security and protection of votes featuring prominently in the engagement.
