Mathew Amaechi
Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has officially declared his intention to run for president again in 2027, pledging to serve only a single four-year term if elected.
Speaking during a live X Spaces session on Sunday night, Obi said his ambition is driven by a deep concern for the country’s worsening state, not personal gain. “I am ready to serve for only one term. Within those four years, I will stabilise Nigeria,” he assured listeners during the interactive session that drew supporters from both Nigeria and the diaspora.
In a follow-up statement on Monday from his media team, Obi dismissed rumours of a possible alliance or joint ticket with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, saying any talks of coalition must be issue-based. “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,” he said.
Obi was critical of what he described as misplaced priorities by the current administration. “Imagine in this country, people are dying in Benue, Borno, and other parts, and our leaders are commissioning bus stops and holidaying,” he said, referencing President Bola Tinubu’s reported trip to St. Lucia. “St. Lucia is about the size of Ilorin. President Tinubu has never slept a night in any Nigerian state outside Lagos since assuming office.”
Obi’s 2027 campaign, he said, will be peaceful but uncompromising in its demand for electoral transparency. “We will follow a non-violent approach and insist that the right thing be done before the results are announced in Abuja. Our votes in 2027 will count, and we will ensure they count.”
Outlining his priorities for the first 100 days in office, Obi listed security, education, and poverty reduction as top targets. He pledged to cut the cost of governance and fight corruption “from day one.”
“My family will not be involved in corruption. Public funds will be channeled into key sectors that benefit Nigerians directly,” he said.
The former Anambra governor also said he intends to enforce political discipline, warning against the now-common trend of elected officials defecting from one party to another. “There will be no defection of elected officials to other parties when I am in charge,” he said.
He called for integrity and accountability in leadership and expressed confidence that Nigeria can recover if led with sincerity and purpose. “To bring order to governance, we must prioritise what matters and lead by example. I was physically present wherever there was an issue in Anambra. Anybody who wants to serve should be ready to put their life on the line for Nigerians,” Obi stated.
On internal Labour Party disputes, he said efforts were underway to secure INEC recognition for the Nenadi Usman-led faction in line with the Supreme Court’s judgment. He also reaffirmed his support for the principle of power rotation between the North and South, saying, “I believe in the rotation of government. I implemented it in Anambra.”
With the 2027 elections still over two years away, Obi’s early declaration sets the stage for a potentially heated contest, as he positions himself as a reform-minded alternative focused on accountability, development, and national unity.
