Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has promised to prioritise national unity, address insecurity and reduce poverty across the country if elected president in the 2027 general election.
Obi made the commitment on Tuesday during a town hall meeting with supporters in Jos, Plateau State, where he presented his vision for Nigeria. He identified national cohesion, improved security, economic recovery and responsible leadership as key priorities of the government he hopes to lead.
Addressing the gathering, the former Anambra State governor lamented the divisions along ethnic and religious lines, describing national unity as the foremost responsibility of his proposed administration. He said, “Our number one commitment is to unite the Federal Republic of Nigeria because today we have no unity. We are divided along tribal and religious lines.”
“That should not be,We are Nigerians.”
He further identified the protection of lives and property as another major priority, stressing that Nigerians deserved to live in an environment free from persistent killings and violence. “Number two is to secure Nigeria. It is our duty to ensure that Nigerians live in safety, in a country where people are no longer killed daily.”
“I assure you that no mother will continue to cry over the loss of her children. No woman should experience the pain of losing her husband, and no father should suffer the agony of losing his wife.”
Obi also pledged to ensure that Nigerians displaced by violence and other security challenges return to their communities, insisting that no citizen should remain indefinitely in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp. He maintained that restoring displaced families to their ancestral homes would be a major responsibility of his administration.
“If any Nigerian remains in an Internally Displaced Persons camp, we have failed. Once one Nigerian is in an IDP camp, the entire Nigeria is in an IDP camp. People must return to their homes. Nobody will kidnap two children and disappear into the bush. If you kidnap children and go into the bush, you will not be alone there. We will come after you,” he declared.
Explaining the rationale behind his engagements with communities ahead of the official commencement of political campaigns, Obi said the initiative was designed to provide an opportunity for Nigerians to express their concerns and contribute to shaping policies that address their everyday challenges.
He argued that effective governance required leaders to engage citizens and understand their expectations rather than limiting interactions to campaign promises and political speeches.
“When you want to serve, you must listen to the people. When we come for campaigns, we only talk and we don’’t listen to the people. We have decided that leadership must be demand-driven,” Obi said.
On preparations for the 2027 general election, the NDC presidential hopeful called on Nigerians to take an active role in safeguarding the electoral process, urging voters to remain at polling units until their votes had been properly counted, documented and transmitted.
He emphasised that citizens must see electoral participation as a patriotic responsibility, warning against the practice of casting ballots and leaving polling stations without monitoring the subsequent counting process.
“In the next election, every voter is an agent. Don’’t vote and go home. Take that day as the one day you are giving to Nigeria as a patriotic Nigerian.
“Prepare yourself with your breakfast, lunch and dinner, and remain there. Your vote must be counted, recorded and transmitted. Nobody should give you any excuse. It is your vote, and we want this election to be about the future of Nigeria,” he said.
In his response, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, appealed to political actors and Nigerians generally to conduct political activities responsibly and avoid actions capable of worsening the country’s existing security problems.
The traditional ruler stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding and respect among citizens, particularly as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum.
He said, “We want to appeal to all politicians and all Nigerians that we should not allow politics to worsen our situation. We already have insecurity, and we must be determined to live with each other in peace and with respect for one another.”
The monarch also offered prayers for divine direction in the selection of the country’s next leader, expressing hope that Nigeria would produce someone capable of providing effective governance and restoring its lost greatness. He urged politicians and their supporters to uphold peace, tolerance and mutual respect throughout the electioneering period.
