Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has declared that he will not join any coalition aimed at grabbing political power for the 2027 elections.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria, Obi criticized coalitions in Nigerian politics, saying they are usually focused on power rather than the country’s progress.
He said, “For me, what is important is about the country. We must talk about the future of Nigeria. We abandoned the country, and all we talk about now is power grabbing. I am not interested in any coalition for the purpose of taking power. It is about discussing Nigeria, how we care about securing Nigeria, care about the common people in the country, and their education. That is the most important thing in Nigeria for now.”
Obi lamented the state of democracy in Nigeria, emphasizing that it has collapsed, with the effects visible in the daily struggles of Nigerians. “We now live in an insecure country. We now live in a country that is breeding poverty every day. People are suffering. So many people don’t know where the next meal will come from,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to work together to strengthen democracy, noting that governance impacts citizens’ lives directly. “Whatever happens in democracy affects the citizens. It affects their daily living and the future of their children. So, we must all now get involved to make it work because we know that it’s not working in Nigeria.”
Obi also condemned the monetisation of politics, describing it as a root cause of corruption. He explained, “That is what we need to remove, because what you are doing is encouraging stealing of public money. If I steal it and use it to win an election, then I get all the power and everything, including immunity not to be prosecuted. So we must stop it. That is what is driving the stealing.”
Reflecting on Ghana’s political system, where a former vice president recently conceded defeat, Obi highlighted the importance of putting people first. “It is about the will of the people. People must be in charge. It is about serving the people, and that is most critical,” he added.
The former Anambra State governor called for urgent action, stressing that Nigeria cannot afford to remain in its current state of insecurity and widespread poverty.
