Obi Makes Vote Protection Central To 2027 Campaign

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to take an active role in protecting their votes in the 2027 general election, warning that the future of the country depends not only on the choice of leaders but also on the credibility of the electoral process.

Obi made the appeal during a town hall meeting with supporters and other residents in Jos, Plateau State, where he outlined his priorities ahead of the next presidential election.

The former Anambra State governor told participants that voters should not leave polling units immediately after casting their ballots. Instead, he urged them to remain at the venues to monitor the counting, recording and transmission of results.

He described every voter as an election agent and called on Nigerians to treat election day as an opportunity to defend the country’s future.

Obi’s appeal placed electoral accountability alongside the major issues he wants to address if elected president, including insecurity, national division, poverty and unemployment.

He said national unity would be the first priority of his proposed administration, expressing concern that ethnic and religious divisions had weakened the country and made it difficult to confront its problems collectively.

According to him, Nigerians must begin to see themselves as members of one country rather than allowing differences in religion, ethnicity and background to determine their relationships.

Security was another major issue at the meeting. Obi promised to confront killings, kidnapping and attacks on communities, insisting that protecting lives and property remained the most important responsibility of government.

He also addressed the plight of internally displaced persons, saying no Nigerian should be forced to remain indefinitely in a displacement camp because of insecurity.

He pledged to create conditions that would allow displaced families to return safely to their ancestral communities, particularly in areas affected by repeated attacks.

Obi said his visits to communities including Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Mangu in Plateau State had exposed him to the suffering of families who had lost relatives, homes and livelihoods to violence.

He argued that restoring security would also help revive economic activities, especially farming, which has been disrupted in communities where residents are afraid to return to their farmlands.

On the economy, the NDC candidate promised to move Nigeria away from a consumption-driven system towards one based on production, arguing that local manufacturing, agriculture and business growth could create employment and reduce poverty.

He also pledged to improve access to bank credit for small businesses, saying entrepreneurs needed better financing opportunities to expand their operations and employ more people.

Obi said his experience in the financial sector had given him an understanding of how banks operate and the challenges faced by businesses seeking funds.

He further promised to fight corruption and ensure that public resources were used for projects and services that directly benefit Nigerians.

Education featured prominently in his proposed agenda. Expressing concern over the estimated 18 million out-of-school children in the country, he promised to invest in classrooms, recruit teachers and improve the condition of public schools.

He also called for stronger primary healthcare services, arguing that functional health centres in communities would improve access to treatment and help reduce maternal and infant deaths.

The former governor said his proposed government would pay greater attention to vulnerable Nigerians, including poor households, elderly citizens and persons living with disabilities.

He explained that the town hall meetings were intended to make governance more responsive by allowing citizens to communicate their needs and expectations directly to those seeking political office.

Earlier, Obi paid a courtesy visit to the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, where he discussed the country’s challenges and the need for peaceful coexistence ahead of the elections.

The traditional ruler cautioned politicians and their supporters against allowing political activities to worsen insecurity in the country.

He urged political actors to promote mutual respect and peaceful relationships among Nigerians, regardless of their religious and ethnic differences.

Obi’s engagement in Jos forms part of his activities ahead of the 2027 election, with his campaign message focusing on security, national unity, economic recovery and accountable leadership.