Former Anambra State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate Peter Obi has formally commenced his campaign for the presidency, promising to unite Nigeria, improve security, strengthen the economy and move the country from consumption to production.
Obi Sets Out Campaign Priorities
In an address dated August 21, 2026, Obi said the 2027 election gives Nigerians an opportunity to examine the records, competence and plans of candidates seeking to lead the country.
“I enter this contest with one firm conviction: Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work,” he said.
Obi acknowledged the country’s challenges, including poverty, insecurity, unemployment, weak infrastructure, unreliable electricity and rising costs of doing business. He, however, argued that Nigeria has enough human and natural resources to overcome its difficulties if they are properly managed.
Promises Production-Led Economy
The former governor said his economic agenda would focus on agriculture, manufacturing, technology, energy, construction, creative industries and services.
He promised to improve agricultural productivity through better security, irrigation, rural roads, storage facilities, financing and market access. He also said his administration would promote manufacturing and agro-processing to reduce dependence on imports and increase the export of finished products.
Obi said public spending would be subjected to greater scrutiny, insisting that every naira spent by government should have a clear purpose and measurable outcome.
Security, Education and Healthcare
Obi described security as the foundation for economic development, saying farmers cannot produce, children cannot learn and businesses cannot grow when people are unable to move or operate safely.
He proposed improved intelligence gathering, better coordination among security agencies, stronger policing and border management, greater use of technology and coordinated decentralisation of security management.
He also promised increased investment in basic education, universities and technical and vocational training, while describing Nigeria’s young population as an economic opportunity rather than a burden.
On healthcare, Obi said the country must strengthen primary healthcare, improve maternal and child health, expand access to essential medicines and provide better support for healthcare workers.
Obi Highlights Kwankwaso’s Experience
Obi also pointed to the governing experience of his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who served as governor of Kano State.
He said Kwankwaso’s administration placed emphasis on education, technical training, scholarships, infrastructure and human-capital development.
According to Obi, their governing experiences are different but lead to the same conclusion: Nigeria must invest in its people and manage public resources with discipline.
Calls for Regional Development
Obi said every region must become productive and contribute to national prosperity.
He identified agriculture and manufacturing as opportunities in the North-West, reconstruction and regional trade in the North-East, food production and mineral development in the North-Central, and manufacturing, technology, finance and creative industries in the South-West.
He also highlighted the South-East’s entrepreneurial and industrial potential, the South-South’s oil, gas and maritime resources, and the need for the Federal Capital Territory to demonstrate better urban planning and public services.
Obi Challenges Presidential Candidates
The former Anambra governor challenged presidential candidates to engage Nigerians directly rather than relying on surrogates.
“No candidate should hide behind the high walls of power, send proxies or surrogates to the hustings, and expect Nigerians to entrust them with the leadership of the country,” he said.
Obi said every presidential candidate should be prepared to answer questions, defend their records and subject their plans to public scrutiny.
He also said his campaign would reject ethnicity, religion, propaganda, elitism and cronyism, while urging Nigerians to debate political ideas without violence or hatred.
‘A New Nigeria Is Possible’
Obi said he and his running mate would travel across the country to meet voters, listen to their concerns and present their plans directly.
He pledged to begin the process of “resetting Nigeria” by uniting the country, improving security, pursuing inclusive economic growth and moving the nation from consumption to production.
“A New Nigeria is possible,” Obi said.
