Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has declared his intention to contest in Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, affirming that he would honour any coalition agreement that mandates him to serve only a single term and hand over power to the North by 2031.
Obi made the declaration during a live X Space event on Sunday night, titled #PeterObiOnParallelFacts, which attracted over 10,000 live listeners and nearly 3,000 comments.
“If the agreement is one term, I will leave on May 28, 2031 — not even May 29. I am not desperate to be president. I am desperate to see Nigeria work,” Obi said in response to a question from a listener identified as Balactic.
He said his willingness to honour such a deal was a reflection of the values he holds dear. “Character and integrity matter more to me than power,” he said. He added that respecting zoning arrangements and coalition terms is a sign of political maturity, citing his record in Anambra State where he once stood down for zoning “at great personal cost.”
Addressing growing speculation about a possible joint ticket with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Obi firmly denied the rumours.
“I have not joined any form of discussion on joint tickets, including with Atiku,” he said.
He emphasized that he would only support a coalition focused on resolving the country’s deep-rooted issues. “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 stated.
Obi criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent overseas trips, particularly his visit to Saint Lucia, which he described as ill-timed and insensitive to the current realities in Nigeria.
“You can’t build strong international relations when your domestic house is on fire,” Obi said. “We’re losing lives in Niger, Benue, Zamfara… and we’re gallivanting. You can’t travel around the world when people are being buried at home. Leaders must stay and lead from the front.”
He questioned the relevance of visiting St. Lucia, a country with a population smaller than Ajegunle in Lagos, describing it as “out of touch” and “a misplacement of priorities.”
Referencing his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, Obi highlighted his personal involvement in community tragedies. “Leadership is not about flying jets. It’s about compassion,” he said. “If 17 soldiers die in Niger and the president is commissioning parties in Lagos, we’ve lost our humanity.”
Looking ahead to 2027, Obi promised a non-violent campaign that focuses on real democratic participation and electoral credibility.
“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 said.
He also laid out his priorities for the first 100 days in office if elected president: “To bring order in governance, I will prioritise security, education and pulling people out of poverty. To do this is by cutting the cost of governance and fighting corruption from day one. My family will not be involved in corruption. Funds will be channelled into key critical sectors.”
Obi concluded by asserting his goal is not to occupy a position, but to redefine leadership: “I don’t want to be president to decorate my CV. I want to show that leadership can be different — and effective.”
