The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has called on political leaders and Nigerians to unite in the effort to rescue the country from poverty, hunger and insecurity ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Obi made the call on Monday in Abuja while attending the commissioning of the 2027 presidential campaign office of Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, Seyi Makinde.
The former Anambra State governor also declared that Makinde was qualified to contest the presidency, stressing that whoever emerges victorious in a free, fair and credible election should receive the support of all Nigerians to move the country forward.
Obi said the political class must move away from desperation and focus on the collective interest of Nigerians.
“What we are doing today is to show you that, for us, we don’t have desperation. We want the people of Nigeria to make their choice. Whoever they choose, all of us will come together to build a new Nigeria,” he said.
He expressed concern over the economic and security challenges confronting the country, saying Nigerians should no longer accept the prevailing situation.
“We can’t all continue the way we are going today. Our people are hungry. Our people are poor. Our people are insecure. Whoever wins, genuinely, from a free, fair and credible election, we all want to work together to save this country from collapse,” Obi said.
‘Let Our Quarrel Be to Feed Nigerians’
Obi said the ultimate objective of political leadership should be to improve the living conditions of Nigerians rather than deepen political divisions.
He described his call as a “social guarantee” aimed at changing the nature of political engagement in the country.
“We declare here the social guarantee to assure you that we are changing the politics. We don’t want politics of quarrel, politics of disagreement. Let our quarrel be to feed our people. Let our quarrel be to pull our people out of poverty,” he said.
The former governor said he envisioned a Nigeria where citizens could achieve their potential regardless of their background or connections.
“We want a Nigeria where a child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody,” he added.
Obi further assured that political leaders should work together as a family in the interest of the nation.
“And all of us will work as a family. And I assure you that we remain united in our rescue for our dear country, Nigeria,” he said.
The 2027 presidential race is expected to feature several major political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is contesting under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alongside Obi and Makinde.
We have a candidate who is contesting for president, my dear brother Makinde. Is he qualified to be president? Yes, he is qualified.
– Presidential candidate of the NDC, Peter Obi, today at the inauguration of the presidential campaign of the APM candidate, Seyi Makinde. pic.twitter.com/FbFXSjMbM8
— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) September 7, 2026
