Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The 2027 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, has vowed to resist any attempt to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the declaration on Wednesday in Enugu while formally defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that the struggle to rescue Nigeria had only just begun.
“The will of the Nigerian people is sacrosanct and non-negotiable. Those plotting to subvert it in 2027 should rethink their actions. Nigerians have endured enough,” he said.
Drawing from his international engagements, Obi cited Rwanda, Indonesia and several Asian economies as examples of what unity, discipline and competent leadership can achieve.
According to the former Anambra State governor, Nigeria’s major problem is not ignorance but a lack of political will.
“Our problem is not ignorance. Nations like Nigeria know what to do to prosper but refuse to do so. The problem is leadership and lack of unity,” he stated.
Obi strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s fiscal policies, particularly the controversies surrounding the proposed tax reforms.
“It is bad fiscal policy for the government to make the people poorer and still tax them more. Taxing poverty will not create wealth; it will only create more poverty,” he said.
He described reports of a forged tax law as alarming.
“For the first time in our history, a tax law is reportedly forged. A forged tax regime cannot create wealth and cannot sustain national unity,” Obi warned.
Explaining his decision to join the David Mark-led ADC, Obi said it was driven by his desire to rescue Nigeria.
“Having been part of this coalition from inception, I now respectfully call on my supporters, the Obidient Movement, and opposition parties across the country to join this broad national coalition under the ADC. This decision is guided solely by patriotism and national interest,” he said.
Obi accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of destroying Nigeria and urged Nigerians to reject the party in 2027.
“They have built a house of cards on lies and errors. Democracy gives us the opportunity to reject them at the polls. Our duty in 2027 is to vote them out and keep vigil until they are gone,” he said.
“This is not the time for silence or ethnic chauvinism. It is time to unite and dismantle the criminal enterprise destroying Nigeria.”
Obi further accused the APC of pretending to fight corruption while entrenching it.
“A leader must be truthful and lead by example. We can no longer be a country where leaders tell lies openly. We cannot claim to fight corruption when corruption is staring us in the face,” he said.
He lamented the worsening insecurity and economic hardship, noting that Nigeria had borrowed more than any previous government.
“Nigeria has never experienced this level of insecurity. We are now called all kinds of names in the comity of nations because of bad and incompetent leadership,” Obi said.
“All of us have agreed to be a family — not a family of crime, but a family of change for the good of the country. We are talking to other political parties to join this coalition to save Nigeria.”
Reflecting on the end of 2025, Obi said Nigeria stood at a critical turning point.
“Nigeria is not poor; we are looted into poverty. With over 130 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty and more than 80 million youths unemployed, our people are in persistent agony,” he said.
“Nigeria is not collapsing under the weight of its people but suffocating under the weight of impunity and greed in leadership.”
He demanded urgent reforms of the electoral process, stressing that electoral integrity was central to national transformation.
“We can no longer toy with elections, especially when we see the tragedies of truncated democracies across West Africa,” he said.
The event was chaired by former Police Service Commission Chairman, Mr Simon Okeke.
Dignitaries present included former Senate President, Sen. David Mark; Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South); Sen. Victor Umeh (Anambra Central); Sen. Tony Nwoye (Anambra North); Sen. Waziri Tambuwal; former Edo State Governor, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor; Sen. Gilbert Nnaji; former governors Achike Udenwa, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Sam Egwu and Emeka Ihedioha.
Others were Sen. Ben Obi; Okey Nwosu, immediate past ADC chairman; Onyema Ugochukwu; Mrs Josephine Anenih; Aisha Yesufu; Prof. Pat Utomi and Prof. Osita Ogbu.
Members of the House of Representatives present included Victor Ogene, other Labour Party lawmakers, a YPP member representing Nnewi North/South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency, as well as Labour Party members of the Enugu State House of Assembly.
