Former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi, has downplayed speculations that former President Goodluck Jonathan could pose a threat to his 2027 presidential ambitions, stating that his primary preoccupation remains the revival of the country rather than tracking rival candidates.
Speaking on Tuesday after emerging from a rigorous, two-hour presidential screening exercise at the national secretariat of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Abuja, the former Labour Party presidential candidate maintained that democratic spaces should remain open to all who wish to serve.
Reacting directly to circulating reports that former President Jonathan might enter the 2027 presidential race under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Obi expressed indifference toward opposing line-ups.
“Actually, I’m not aware of that,” Mr Obi remarked. “But democracy is about people offering themselves for service and being voted for. I’m not in any way going around looking for who and who is contesting. I’m concentrating on how to build a better Nigeria.”
Detailing his vision for the federation, the prominent opposition leader asserted that Nigeria is currently fractured and requires deliberate efforts to forge cohesion. He promised that his administration would focus on four critical pillars:
National Unity: Restoring a sense of belonging by strictly governing in accordance with constitutional stipulations regarding federal character and inclusivity.
Security: Safeguarding communities so that citizens can commute without trepidation. “We want to see mothers no longer fear when their children go to school or work,” he added.
Economic Revival: Implementing policies designed to rescue the citizenry from the severe economic hardships currently biting across the country.
Anti-Corruption: Eliminating the systemic diversion of public wealth into private hands to ensure the economy functions for the collective good.
Lamenting the socioeconomic conditions of ordinary Nigerians, Mr Obi observed that “so many Nigerians today go to bed not knowing where the next meal will come from tomorrow.” He chided contemporary politicians for being “preoccupied with the next election when Nigerians are dying,” insisting that the trend must stop immediately.
Mr Obi had arrived at the NDC national secretariat at approximately 6:45 pm, clad in his signature black kaftan and cap, just after the chairman of the screening panel, former Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu, entered the venue. He was accompanied by Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central.
The screening committee, a 17-member panel constituted by the NDC National Secretary, Mr Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, was formally inaugurated earlier on Tuesday evening. The committee boasts high-profile figures such as Buba Galadima, Ikeddy Isiguzo, Wole Adedayo, Udenta Udenta, and Henry Obaze.
Addressing the length of his vetting session, which exceeded two hours, Mr Obi defended the rigorous nature of the exercise as a necessary standard for a serious political entity.
“This is democracy in action because NDC chooses to do things properly. So when we say this is going to be screening, it has to be done right,” he explained. “Nigerians want to know whether you meet the stipulated constitutional qualification and provide relevant documents to back them… That’s why the screening took over two hours.”
The former governor also took the opportunity to dispel widespread media rumours suggesting that he had already emerged as the party’s consensus candidate following behind-the-scenes arrangements with opposition leaders.
“The party just opened up their expression of interest and nomination forms for people to buy. So there is no consensus yet,” Mr Obi clarified. “Although I bought the forms, I don’t know who else has bought. So until the party says I’m the only one who expressed interest, that’s it.”
As the political landscape undergoes a significant shift, the rigorous screening at the NDC national secretariat signals the formal commencement of high-stakes internal contests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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