Peter Obi Accepts NDC Presidential Ticket, Unveils Agenda on Security, Economy, Healthcare

Our Reporter 

ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has formally accepted his nomination as the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Coalition (NDC) for the 2027 general election, declaring that "a New Nigeria is Possible" and outlining an ambitious policy agenda focused on national unity, security, healthcare, education, agriculture, power supply, job creation, and governance reforms.

Speaking at the party's nomination event in Abuja on Saturday, Obi described his emergence as the NDC standard-bearer as a collective mission aimed at restoring hope and rebuilding public confidence in governance.

"It is with deep humility that I accept the role of presidential candidate for our party," Obi said, while expressing gratitude to the party leadership, supporters, and Nigerians across the country who have sustained the vision of a better nation.

The former Labour Party presidential candidate said Nigeria was at a critical crossroads, marked by insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, and declining public trust in government institutions.

According to him, national unity remains fundamental to the country's progress, stressing that ethnic, religious, and regional divisions have continued to undermine development.

"We should build bridges where others erect barriers, replace mistrust with confidence, division with understanding, and resentment with a collective purpose," he stated.

On security, Obi painted a grim picture of the country's worsening challenges, citing global terrorism rankings that placed Nigeria among the world's most affected nations. He pledged to adopt an intelligence-driven and technology-enabled security framework while addressing root causes such as poverty, unemployment, and marginalisation.

"Our strategy will be intelligence-driven, technology-enhanced, proactive, and community-focused. We will strengthen our security institutions and support our courageous personnel," he said.

The NDC candidate also promised sweeping reforms in the healthcare sector, lamenting the poor state of primary healthcare services and low health insurance coverage nationwide.

He pledged to increase health insurance coverage from about 10 per cent to over 20 per cent within four years and raise healthcare spending to at least 10 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Obi further promised that every ward in Nigeria would have a functional primary healthcare centre, while at least half of the country's estimated 30,000 healthcare facilities would become fully operational by the end of his first term.

In the education sector, he pledged increased investments in schools, teachers, technology, and vocational training, arguing that education remains the foundation of national development and economic prosperity.

Addressing food insecurity, Obi described Nigeria's rising hunger levels as unacceptable despite its vast agricultural potential. He called for a transition from a consumption-based economy to a production-driven one, anchored on large-scale agricultural investments.

He maintained that unlocking the country's agricultural resources, particularly in northern Nigeria, would significantly reduce poverty and food shortages.

On power generation, Obi described Nigeria's electricity deficit as a major obstacle to economic growth, noting that the country currently generates and distributes only about 4,000 megawatts for over 200 million people.

He pledged to increase electricity generation and distribution to a minimum of 10,000 megawatts within four years if elected president.

The former governor also outlined plans to tackle unemployment and underemployment through targeted support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including tax incentives, low-interest financing, and investments in agriculture, manufacturing, entertainment, sports, and distribution.

Obi further promised a significant reduction in corruption and governance costs through transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public resources.

He pledged strict adherence to the rule of law and vowed to strengthen democratic institutions by ensuring respect for opposition parties and protecting the integrity of the electoral process.

"Our democracy will exemplify true governance of the people, by the people, and for the people, completely free from interference by the ruling party," he said.

Obi concluded his address by urging Nigerians to remain hopeful and united in the pursuit of national transformation.

His acceptance speech marks the formal commencement of his presidential campaign under the NDC platform ahead of the 2027 general election.