The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, have intensified their campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election, warning political parties against relying solely on political structures to secure victory.
The duo spoke on Thursday at an NDC town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where they engaged with voters and criticised what they described as weaknesses in Nigeria’s political system and governance.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, urged Nigerians to remain vigilant during the 2027 elections, insisting that their votes must be protected and counted.
“Our votes this time must count, and whoever doesn’t count it, we will count the person,” Obi said.
He also called on politicians seeking public office to engage directly with the electorate rather than relying on intermediaries.
“We’ve had enough of this nonsense. Leadership cannot be outsourced,” Obi said.
“If you want to lead, you have to talk to the people.”
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, warned political parties against assuming that controlling a large number of state governments would automatically translate into victory at the presidential poll.
“The sitting president lost the election,” he said.
“Especially those who think because they have over 30 governors, they cannot lose the election. That is a very big mistake.”
Kwankwaso also criticised some northern governors, alleging that their performance in office could make it difficult for them to effectively campaign for their parties during the 2027 election.
“The trend is those governors and their party have performed woefully to the extent that it is very difficult for them even to come out and campaign,” he said.
The comments come as Obi and Kwankwaso step up grassroots mobilisation and voter engagement ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
