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The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to tackle corruption, insecurity, poverty, unemployment and the rising cost of living, promising measurable improvements in governance from the first day of his administration.
Obi made the pledge on Monday at a dinner in Abuja following the unveiling of the party’s national secretariat, inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council and presentation of certificates of return to its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former Anambra State governor, who is running alongside Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his vice-presidential candidate, said Nigeria needed a fundamental change in leadership, accountability and public resource management.
“The purpose of governance is to solve problems, not to blame people. Kwankwaso and I will not blame anybody. We will create that new Nigeria that is possible,” he declared.
Obi accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of failing to translate increased revenues and borrowing into improved living conditions for Nigerians, demanding greater transparency in the management of public funds.
He promised that an NDC-led government would ensure public resources were used for the benefit of citizens and that anyone found guilty of diverting public funds would be held accountable in accordance with the law.
On security, Obi pledged a more decisive response to kidnapping, violent attacks and other threats, insisting that the president must demonstrate leadership by visiting communities affected by insecurity.
“If they say there is a problem in Jos, he will go to Jos,” he said.
He also promised to declare an emergency in agriculture, particularly in northern Nigeria, to restore farming activities disrupted by insecurity, improve food production, reduce hunger and create employment opportunities.
On education, the presidential candidate expressed concern over the large number of out-of-school children, promising to prioritise access to quality education and expand opportunities for disadvantaged Nigerians.
In the health sector, he renewed his pledge to establish a functional primary healthcare centre in every ward within two years of assuming office.
Obi also promised emergency measures to improve electricity generation, transmission and distribution, describing reliable power supply as essential to industrial growth, job creation and economic recovery.
“We will declare emergency on generation, transmission, and distribution,” he said, adding that Nigeria must revive its manufacturing sector and transition from a consumption-driven economy to one based on production.
He further pledged to improve access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises, promising that more than 20 per cent of available credit would go to small businesses under an NDC administration.
Obi also proposed tax holidays and other incentives to support businesses, arguing that small enterprises needed greater access to financing to expand operations and generate employment.
The NDC candidate criticised Tinubu’s foreign travels, insisting that Nigeria needed a president who would devote more attention to domestic challenges and regularly visit communities affected by insecurity.
He urged political parties to conduct their campaigns peacefully and warned against intimidation of NDC supporters, maintaining that the 2027 elections should be decided by ideas and the will of voters.
“The revolution that is coming is a revolution of the ballot,” Obi declared, calling on Nigerians to defend electoral integrity and demand free, fair and credible elections.
Earlier, the NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, described the gathering as a significant milestone in the party’s preparations for the elections.
Cleopas urged the party’s candidates to regard their nominations as a responsibility to the electorate, warning that the NDC would not tolerate unfulfilled campaign promises.
“If we fail to bring water for you in two years, if we open our mouths to say, vote for us again, please don’t vote for us,” he said.
The party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, described the newly unveiled secretariat at 393 Etang Obuli Crescent, Jabi, Abuja, as the NDC’s “Noah’s Ark”, portraying it as a unifying centre for the party’s political activities.
The event was attended by party leaders and stakeholders, including Senator Victor Umeh, Rivers State governorship candidate Dumo Lulu-Briggs and Adamawa State governorship candidate Senator Aisha Binani.
The unveiling of the secretariat and inauguration of the campaign council mark another phase in the NDC’s preparations for the 2027 elections, with the party promising to centre its campaign on accountability, economic recovery, security and improved public services.
