Ahead of 2027, former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has endorsed Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as a worthy contender for the nation’s highest office, while urging citizens to set aside partisanship once the ballots are counted.
Speaking Monday in Abuja at the formal inauguration of Makinde’s presidential campaign, Obi dismissed any debate over the Oyo governor’s eligibility, affirming without reservation that Makinde possesses the constitutional and moral qualifications to lead Africa’s most populous nation.
“We have a candidate who is contesting for president today, my dear brother Makinde. Number one is, is he qualified to be president? Yes, he is qualified, ” Obi declared before a gathering of supporters and political stakeholders.
The NDC flagbearer was careful, however, to frame his appearance not as an imposition of preference but as a symbolic gesture toward a more mature democratic culture. He stressed that Nigerians must be allowed to freely determine their leader without coercion or manipulation.
“What we are doing today is to show you, for us, it’s not about the inspiration. We want the people of Nigeria to make their choice, ” Obi stated.
A Call for Post-Election Cohesion
Beyond the endorsement, Obi’s address carried a broader, more urgent message: that Nigeria’s deepening crises, hunger, poverty, and a crumbling healthcare system, demand a collective response that transcends political rivalry.
He warned that the nation could no longer afford the divisive politics that have historically characterized election cycles, insisting that the true measure of leadership lies in its capacity to improve the material conditions of ordinary citizens.
“We want to come together to build a new Nigeria. We can’t continue the way we are going today. Our people are hungry. Our people are poor. Our people are ill, ” Obi lamented.
The former governor laid down a challenge to politicians and their supporters alike, urging them to rally behind whoever emerges victorious from a free, fair, and credible electoral process, regardless of party affiliation.
“Whoever wins, genuinely, from a free, fair, credible election, all of us want to work together to save this country from collapse, ” he emphasized.
Obi characterized his presence at the campaign launch as a deliberate break from the politics of acrimony and confrontation that have long defined Nigeria’s democratic experience.
“That is why I’m here, to show solidarity, to assure you that we are changing the game. We don’t want policies of war, policies of disagreement, ” he explained.
He articulated a vision where political leadership serves as a vehicle for social mobility, where a child’s destiny is not predetermined by family connections or political patronage.
“We want a Nigeria where a child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody. That’s what we want, ” Obi declared, drawing applause from the audience.
The endorsement comes as Nigeria’s political landscape continues to fragment ahead of 2027, with Obi’s overture to Makinde, a governor from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APM), signaling potential coalition-building across party lines.
Makinde, who has governed Oyo State since 2019, is positioning himself as a technocratic alternative in a crowded presidential field. Obi’s endorsement lends credibility to that ambition while also reinforcing the NDC leader’s growing influence as a kingmaker of sorts in opposition circles.
The event concluded with Obi reiterating that the ultimate objective of any government must be the welfare of the people, feeding the hungry, lifting the poor, and restoring hope in a nation weary of unfulfilled promises.
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