Former Anambra State Governor and former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has declared that he will contest the 2027 presidential election.
This is just as he vowed not to be intimidated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its 30 governors.
Speaking at an empowerment programme organized by Hon. George Ozodinobi, the lawmaker representing the Dunukofia, Njikoka, Anaocha federal constituency, in Nimo, Anambra State, Obi dismissed recent political maneuvers and constitutional tinkering as efforts to derail his ambition, insisting they will not succeed.
Addressing a crowd of supporters, Obi painted a grim picture of the nation’s state, arguing that his quest for the highest office is driven by a desire to salvage a collapsing system.
“Nigeria has collapsed and is already lying on the ground. Nigeria is not working because many rich Nigerians are hungry and greedy. They have everything they need, but still scavenging for more,” Obi stated.
He clarified that his ambition is rooted in national rebirth rather than personal aggrandizement.
“I have always said that I’m not desperate to be the president of Nigeria, but I’m desperate to see a Nigeria that works. We want a country where the son of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody,” he added.
The former governor also addressed his recent departure from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), criticizing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for refusing to recognize court judgments that favored his faction in the party’s leadership tussle.
“People have been asking me why I left LP, but I told them that we have been in court in Labour Party over leadership, and we have been securing favourable judgement, but INEC refused to recognise us,” Obi explained. “But when I left on 31 December, they recognised the same orders they were rejecting.”
In a direct challenge to the ruling party, which controls 30 of Nigeria’s 36 states, Obi remained defiant, calling for a level playing field in 2027.
“You see all the things they have been tinkering with the constitution, some of them are because they don’t want me to contest. But I want to tell them that with their 30 governors, they should make the election free and fair and see who wins.
“I want to announce to you all that no matter what they do, I must contest the election. Let them declare a free and fair contest, bring the ball to the middle of the field and declare it started, and let’s see what happens,” Obi boasted.
The presidential hopeful praised the host lawmaker for his empowerment efforts, stressing that such representation is what Nigeria needs more of in the National Assembly.
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