Elochukwu Benjamin
Awka
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has challenged all contenders for Nigeria’s presidency in the 2027 general election to publicly defend their records, credentials and policy proposals before Nigerians.
Obi made the call on Friday in Onitsha, Anambra State, while officially flagging off the NDC’s presidential and National Assembly campaigns, saying Nigerians deserved to hear directly from those seeking their mandate rather than candidates “hiding behind high walls of power.”
“Every candidate seeking the presidency must have the courage to come before the people, answer their questions, defend their records and subject their vision to public scrutiny,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor, who is contesting alongside Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, said their campaign would be taken directly to communities across the country instead of being conducted through political surrogates.
Obi described the 2027 election as a defining opportunity for Nigerians to evaluate the competence, character and ideas of those seeking to lead the country at a time of worsening economic hardship and insecurity.
Reiterating his belief that “Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work,” he identified poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, insecurity, poor infrastructure and unreliable electricity supply as some of the country’s most pressing challenges.
He said an NDC administration would pursue policies aimed at transforming Nigeria from a consumption-driven economy into one anchored on production, investment and human capital development.
According to him, priority sectors would include agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction, energy and the creative industry to stimulate economic growth and create jobs.
Obi also pledged measures to improve security for farmers by expanding intelligence gathering, strengthening policing, improving border management, deploying technology and supporting community-based early warning systems.
He added that investments in irrigation, rural roads, storage facilities and access to finance would be expanded to boost agricultural productivity.
On social development, the NDC candidate promised increased investment in education, healthcare and vocational training to equip young Nigerians with employable skills, while improving maternal and child healthcare services and access to essential medicines.
He urged Nigerians to judge candidates on competence, capacity, character and compassion rather than ethnicity or religion.
Obi further called on voters to scrutinise the records of presidential aspirants, demand evidence for campaign promises and reject politics driven by propaganda, ethnic sentiment, religious divisions and cronyism.
He said his goal was to unite the country, tackle insecurity and poverty, and build an economy that works for all Nigerians.
