Peter Obi has officially launched his run for president and says the 2027 race should be decided in the open, not behind closed doors.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday, August 21, 2026, the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate said anyone asking to lead the country must be ready to answer questions from citizens directly. He argued that leadership cannot be outsourced to spokespeople or surrogates.
“No candidate should hide behind the walls of power and expect Nigerians to hand over the country to them,” Obi said. “Every person seeking the presidency must present their credentials, defend what they have done, and explain their plans under public scrutiny.”
Obi, who was governor of Anambra, said physical presence matters in a country dealing with banditry, terrorism and flooding. According to him, you cannot lead people you refuse to visit or listen to.
He also announced that he and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, will take their campaign across the country themselves. “We will listen, we will engage openly, and we will not delegate this process,” he said. “We will answer questions, defend our record and character, and present our plan to rebuild Nigeria.”
The former governor framed his campaign around what he called a reset for Nigeria: uniting the country, improving security, and shifting the economy from consumption to production with more inclusive growth.
Obi warned that any presidential hopeful unwilling to travel and meet voters directly does not have what it takes to govern.
