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Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has reaffirmed his intention to contest in the 2027 presidential election.
He declared that four years are enough for him to change Nigeria’s trajectory if elected.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the former Anambra State governor assured his supporters that he would be on the ballot and expressed optimism in his capacity and competence to lead the country toward progress and stability.
“I am contesting, and I am sure I will be on the ballot. People will have to look at who is competing, who has the capacity, who has everything. I think I am qualified; I have the capacity to do the job. I will say it over and over again that, in four years, I can change the trajectory of Nigeria to a positive one,” Obi said.
The 2023 Labour Party standard-bearer, who is now part of the opposition coalition that adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform, dismissed speculations about his defection or return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He reiterated that he remains a committed member of the Labour Party but will continue to work with other opposition figures across party lines in the collective mission to rescue Nigeria from bad governance.
“All of us are going to come together as a people. That is my belief — that for us to do the right thing for the country, all well-meaning Nigerians must come together now to rescue the country,” he stated.
Reacting to the recent defection of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Obi dismissed concerns that such political moves could tilt the balance of power or lead to a one-party state.
According to him, no political party can capture any region or state simply because a governor defects, stressing that the era of political “capture” belongs to Nigeria’s military past.
“The people will decide where to go, not governors or senators. No party will capture or win any state just because it has a governor.
Peter Mbah is a good friend of mine, and I believe that as governor, he must have taken his decision based on his own political views and calculations,” Obi said.
He further emphasized that the South-East region cannot be captured through defections or political manipulation, maintaining that leadership in a democracy is about persuasion, not coercion.
“As for the alleged plot to capture the South-East, we are not in a military time when you capture people. You are a leader; you tend to do the right things for them to follow you. So, I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere,” he added.
Obi also urged political leaders to focus on good governance, accountability, and policies that directly improve the lives of citizens, warning that no amount of political realignment can guarantee loyalty without genuine service to the people.
The former governor’s declaration has renewed enthusiasm among his supporters and the broader opposition coalition, as preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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