Peter Obi: Nigeria Can Work, and Nigeria Must Work

Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said Nigeria can overcome its current challenges, declaring that “Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work.”

Obi made the statement in an address marking the commencement of the 2027 presidential and National Assembly campaign period.

According to him, Wednesday, August 19, 2026, marked the official beginning of campaigns for the 2027 elections, describing the period as a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy.

He said the campaign would give Nigerians the opportunity to assess the records, ideas and plans of candidates seeking their mandate at a time of what he described as grave uncertainty in a rapidly changing world.

“I consider myself quite privileged to be one of those seeking your mandate to deal with these challenges facing our country,” Obi said.

“I enter this contest with one firm conviction: Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work.”

Obi highlighted poverty, food insecurity, internal displacement, unemployment, weak infrastructure, unreliable electricity, insecurity and the high cost of doing business among the major challenges confronting the country.

Citing figures attributed to the International Monetary Fund, Obi said 63 per cent of Nigerians, representing more than 140 million people, live at or below the national poverty line.

He also referenced humanitarian estimates indicating that about 35 million Nigerians would require food assistance during the 2026 lean season, while about 3.6 million people remain internally displaced, largely as a result of conflict and insecurity.

The former Anambra State governor said the figures represented more than statistics, arguing that they reflected the everyday struggles of Nigerian families, farmers, workers, students and businesses.

Despite the challenges, Obi said he remained confident in Nigeria’s ability to overcome them.

He said the country possesses the people, resources, market, talent and entrepreneurial capacity needed to build a prosperous economy, but stressed that these strengths must be converted into security, productivity and shared prosperity.

Obi said his experience in the private sector, studies in policy and business and his time as governor of Anambra State had shaped his understanding of public leadership.

According to him, government must manage public resources responsibly, establish clear priorities and measure the results of its decisions.

“Public office is not a reward; it is a responsibility to the people,” he said.

Reflecting on his record in Anambra, Obi said his administration prioritised education, healthcare, infrastructure, fiscal discipline and institutional capacity as foundations for long-term development.

He acknowledged that his record was not perfect but said it represented an experience from which Nigerians could draw their own conclusions.

Obi also highlighted the governing experience of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, describing their experiences as different but complementary.

He said Kwankwaso’s administration in Kano focused on education, technical training, scholarships, infrastructure and human-capital development.

According to Obi, investments in education and skills demonstrated the importance of treating people as the most important long-term resource of any state.

“Our experiences are different, but our conclusion is the same: Nigeria must invest in its people and manage public resources with discipline,” he said.

On the economy, Obi said Nigeria needed to move beyond reactive reforms and focus on whether government policies were actually improving the lives of citizens.

He questioned whether Nigerians were better off than they were four years ago, whether families could afford food, education and healthcare, and whether businesses could produce, expand and create jobs.

He also raised questions about opportunities for young Nigerians and the ability of farmers to work safely and transport their produce to markets.

Obi said these questions should remain central to the 2027 election debate as Nigerians assess the candidates seeking to lead the country.

Peter Obi: Those Seeking to Be Addressed as “His Excellency” Must Behave Excellently

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on political candidates and their supporters to embrace peaceful conduct ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Obi made the call after joining other presidential candidates to sign the first National Peace Accord for the 2027 Presidential Elections.

The NDC presidential candidate said his decision to sign the accord reinforced his commitment to ensuring that candidates conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the offices they aspire to occupy.

He urged political leaders to reject violent rhetoric and take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters.

“Leaders must eschew all forms of violent rhetoric and rein in their followers to do the same,” Obi said.

According to him, the 2027 election should focus on issues directly affecting Nigerians, including national unity, insecurity, poverty, the rising number of out-of-school children and the need to restore hope to citizens.

Obi also urged supporters of all political parties to recognise the commitment made by the candidates to free, fair and credible elections based on issues and devoid of rancour.

He stressed that those seeking public office must demonstrate the qualities expected of the offices they want to occupy.

“Those of us wishing to be addressed as ‘His Excellency’ must behave excellently, and, more importantly, the process of attaining public office must be excellent,” he said.

The NDC candidate said his party takes seriously the commitment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

He also noted the pledge by law enforcement agencies to remain unbiased throughout the electioneering process.

Obi called on his supporters to remain peaceful and determined as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“I call on my supporters to remain firm, determined, and peaceful,” he said.

He concluded his message with his familiar political slogan: “A New Nigeria is POssible.”

Obi became the NDC’s presidential candidate after the party formally affirmed him as its flagbearer at its special convention in May 2026. He later named Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate for the 2027 election. 

Aviation Minister Gives Peter Obi One Week to Apologise Over Airport Incident or Face FAAN Action

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development has asked NDC Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to publicly apologise to airport staff and pay a ₦25,000 fine over an alleged parking violation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, warning that further action could follow if he fails to comply within one week.

In a statement released on Friday, the minister said he ordered an internal review after Obi alleged that the tyres of his vehicle were unjustly clamped at the airport as part of what he described as a campaign of persecution against him.

According to the minister, the inquiry included a review of CCTV footage from the airport, which he said provided a detailed account of the incident.

He alleged that Obi arrived at the airport on July 4, 2026, and was dropped off at the domestic terminal before his police driver left the vehicle unattended in a designated drop-off zone.

The minister said airport regulations require drivers to remain with their vehicles in such areas, adding that the vehicle was left parked for about 30 minutes before airport officials clamped its tyres.

He further claimed that airport personnel did not know the vehicle belonged to Obi when they carried out the enforcement action.

According to the statement, Obi later spoke with the airport manager by telephone after his driver contacted him, and the vehicle was subsequently released without payment of the prescribed penalty.

The minister alleged that the release amounted to the use of influence to avoid the sanction ordinarily imposed for such violations.

He also rejected Obi’s earlier claim that the incident reflected political persecution, describing it instead as the enforcement of standard airport regulations.

The minister demanded that Obi publicly apologise to airport workers whom he said were unfairly accused while performing their duties.

He also called on the former Anambra State governor to voluntarily return to the airport and pay the ₦25,000 fine for the alleged parking offence.

The minister warned that if the demands are not met within one week, he would direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take further action in accordance with its regulations.

As of the time of filing this report, Peter Obi had not publicly responded to the minister’s latest statement.

The controversy follows Obi’s earlier allegation that his vehicle was unfairly targeted at the airport, a claim that generated widespread political debate before the Federal Government’s latest response.