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Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has alleged that the Federal Government is making efforts to prevent him from participating in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that no amount of pressure would stop his ambition.
Speaking at a leadership programme organised by the NextGen Mentorship and Leadership Initiative at Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State, Obi claimed he had faced increasing political obstacles but remained determined to pursue his vision for Nigeria. He maintained that challenges would not distract him from his goal of transforming the country.
The former Anambra State governor also challenged President Bola Tinubu and other presidential aspirants to a public debate, urging them to present their plans for addressing Nigeria's economic and governance challenges. According to him, leadership should be based on competence and clear ideas rather than political rhetoric.
Obi said his presidential ambition was driven by a desire to build a nation where every citizen has equal opportunities regardless of ethnic background. He urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote based on competence rather than ethnicity or religion.
He also reacted to the Federal High Court judgment which nullified an earlier ruling that led to the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The court held that the earlier judgment was defective because all interested parties were not heard and directed that the matter be reheard after the necessary parties had been joined.
Despite the court ruling, Obi expressed confidence that the decision would not derail his political aspirations, insisting that those seeking to frustrate Nigeria's democracy would not succeed. He reaffirmed his commitment to contesting the election, saying the will of the people would prevail and that efforts to stop him would ultimately fail.
