Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision not to campaign across all 36 states ahead of the 2027 general elections, questioning his commitment to the responsibilities of leadership.
Obi made the remarks on Thursday at a political summit in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, where he challenged the President to account for his administration’s achievements over the past three years and explain how funds borrowed by the government had been utilised.
The former Anambra State governor’s comments followed Tinubu’s indication that he might not visit all 36 states during the 2027 campaign, citing the need to balance political activities with the demands of governance.
Reacting, Obi alleged that Tinubu had spent more than 260 days outside the country but was unwilling to dedicate 36 days to visiting the states and presenting his administration’s performance to Nigerians. He also questioned the President’s energy and competence to continue leading the country.
Obi further cautioned against ethnic and regional divisions, urging residents of the South-East, particularly Ebonyi State, not to support him solely because of his Igbo background. He maintained that voters should assess candidates based on their qualifications and capacity to lead Nigeria.
Outlining his proposed agenda, the NDC presidential candidate said his administration would declare a state of emergency in critical sectors, including national unity, security, education, healthcare, agriculture, corruption and power.
On security, Obi promised to strengthen and equip security agencies to tackle kidnapping, banditry and other threats, insisting that the protection of lives and property would be a major priority of his government.
He also pledged to address the country’s education crisis by reducing the number of out-of-school children, estimated at more than 18 million, while promising to improve agricultural production, tackle hunger and ensure access to functional healthcare facilities across the country’s political wards.
READ ALSO: 2027: Atiku, Obi Demand Direct Engagement From Tinubu, Reject Use Of Surrogates
On corruption, Obi vowed to ensure accountability in the management of public funds, declaring that anyone found guilty of embezzlement would face the law, irrespective of their position, including the President.
He added that his proposed administration would prioritise national unity, equitable opportunities and the responsible use of public resources to address Nigeria’s economic and social challenges.
