NIGERIA: Peter Obi Declares 2027 Presidential Bid, Vows To Serve Only One Term 

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

In a bold move that rekindles hope among his supporters and restates his political commitment to a better Nigeria, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has officially declared his intention to run for president again in the 2027 general elections.

The former Anambra State governor made the declaration during a live session on X Spaces on Sunday night, where he engaged directly with his supporters both in Nigeria and the diaspora.

In a follow-up statement released Monday by Ibrahim Umar of the Peter Obi Media Reach, Obi confirmed that, if elected, he is committed to serving only a single term of four years.

According to him, his ambition is not driven by power or longevity in office but by a determined mission to reset Nigeria on the path of stability, economic revival, and responsible governance.

During the X Spaces conversation, Obi addressed widespread speculations about a possible joint presidential ticket with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, dismissing them categorically. While he acknowledged being open to coalition talks, he clarified that such alliances must be firmly rooted in solving Nigeria’s fundamental challenges, not just political convenience.

“If the coalition is not about stopping the killings in Benue, Zamfara, how to revive our economy, how to make our industries productive, how to put food on the tables of Nigerians… Count me out. Nigeria is currently at war. We need to do something about it,” he declared passionately.

Obi promised that if elected, his administration would restore stability to Nigeria within two years, emphasizing a direct and solutions-oriented approach.

“I will bring stability in Nigeria within two years in office. Leaders of Nigeria should sit down in Nigeria and fix Nigeria,” he said, implicitly criticizing the political elite for their detachment from the realities facing everyday Nigerians.

Touching on the internal crisis rocking the Labour Party, Obi expressed optimism that the party would soon get recognition for the Nenadi Usman-led faction in line with a recent Supreme Court ruling.

He reassured his supporters that steps were being taken to restore unity and legal recognition to the party structure he aligns with.

On the issue of power rotation, Obi reiterated his long-standing belief in zoning and inclusivity, stating, “I believe in the rotation of government between North and South. I implemented it in Anambra as a governor.”

Obi also directed pointed criticism at President Bola Tinubu, who, according to reports, is vacationing in St. Lucia. Drawing attention to the state of insecurity in Nigeria, Obi compared St. Lucia to Ilorin, the tenth-largest city in Nigeria, and condemned what he described as the President’s continued absence from states beyond Lagos since assuming office in 2023.

“St Lucia is about the size of the 10th largest city of Nigeria, Ilorin. President Tinubu has never slept a night in any state of Nigeria outside Lagos since the assumption of office in 2023. PBAT to stay in St Lucia for 10 days,” he lamented.

As he laid out his 2027 vision, Obi vowed to take a non-violent, transparent path to power, assuring that the electoral process would be approached with a commitment to lawful engagement and insistence on electoral integrity.

“We will do things differently in 2027. We will follow a non-violent approach and insist that the right thing will be done before the result announcement in Abuja. Our votes in 2027 will count, and we will ensure they count,” he stated.

Obi outlined three key focus areas for his first 100 days in office: strengthening national security, revitalizing the education sector, and reducing poverty. He promised to channel public funds directly into these critical areas while cutting the cost of governance and launching a robust war against corruption from day one.

In a clear departure from Nigeria’s current political culture, Obi pledged that his administration would draw a line against nepotism and corruption, even within his household. “My family will not be involved in corruption. Funds to be channelled into key critical sectors,” he vowed.

He also promised to strengthen party discipline and end the now-common practice of elected officials defecting to other parties.

“There will be no defection of elected officials to other parties when I am in charge,” Obi stated firmly.

Taking a swipe at the Tinubu administration’s priorities, Obi criticized the continued commissioning of “bus stops” amid national security emergencies and economic hardship. “Imagine in this country, people are dying in Benue, Borno, and other parts of the country, and our leaders are commissioning bus stops and holidaying,” he said.