I’m Running For President, Not VP, Obi Declares

Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, has affirmed that he is running for president in the 2027 election, dismissing insinuations that he is aiming to be vice president.

The former Anambra State governor stated this on Sunday during One-On-One with Peter Obi, a current affairs segment of Sunday Politics on Channels Television in Abuja.

He also pledged to serve only a single term of office if elected president of the country, stressing that he would not betray any trust bestowed on him in this regard.

“I don’t need a day more than four years. I will show the direction of good governance. In two years, there has been maximum damage. Two years can change it in a good direction. People want to get up and see a president who cares and shows compassion,” he said.

Obi is a key member of the opposition coalition movement, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), unveiled last week.

Speculation has been rife over whether Obi would accept the position of running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as he did in 2019.

When asked about his ambition in 2027, Obi said,

“I’m going to contest for the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and I believe I am qualified for it.”

On whether he would consider becoming Atiku’s running mate in the 2027 election, Obi responded,

“This is not in play; nobody has ever discussed that. People assume so many things. Nobody has ever discussed whether I will be A, B, or C.”

The former Anambra State governor also reiterated that he remains an active member of the Labour Party.

However, LEADERSHIP reports that Obi is a leading figure in the ADC coalition adopted by the opposition to unseat President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is seeking a second four-year term in 2027.

“I am part of the coalition which will be able to produce a president with the capacity and compassion to save this country,” he said.

He lamented that, in two years, President Bola Tinubu had, in his view, inflicted “maximum damage” on the Nigerian economy, spreading hardship and poverty across the country.

Obi also criticised President Tinubu for a perceived lack of compassion over numerous deaths in the country, particularly victims of insecurity.

“Today, we are in a country that has leadership without compassion. Several children died in Ibadan on 18 December last year, and on 19 December, the president of Nigeria flew from Abuja to Lagos for Christmas festivities. There is no compassion, and we can change that if we move in the right direction,” he noted.

Obi further questioned the priorities of Tinubu’s government, citing the commissioning of a bus station project in Abuja while around 20 soldiers were killed in Niger, asking when ceremonial projects became more important than soldiers’ lives.

The former governor vowed that, if elected, he would declare war on insecurity rather than merely a state of emergency, asserting that non-state actors must not be allowed to challenge the authority of the state.

He also promised to empower states, local governments, and communities to establish police systems alongside the federal police.

“From day one, I will tackle insecurity head-on. Non-state actors cannot be stronger than the state. We must declare war on insecurity, but we must concentrate more on natural security, which is pulling people out of poverty.”

Obi also denounced what he described as the extravagant spending of the Tinubu administration, citing the purchase of private jets and luxury items while critical sectors such as education and health continue to suffer neglect.

He criticised the “disorganised” removal of the fuel subsidy, saying the government had failed to make adequate provisions to mitigate the impact.

He accused the Tinubu administration of borrowing more funds than the combined governments of Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Muhammadu Buhari, raising Nigeria’s debt from approximately ₦80 trillion to ₦180 trillion in just two years—with little to show for it.

He pledged to borrow only for investment purposes, particularly to finance electricity, following examples such as India, Egypt, and Vietnam, which have made significant, strategic investments in their power sectors.

Reiterating his mantra of shifting Nigeria’s economy from consumption to production, Obi promised to invest heavily in agriculture and rural development, especially in northern Nigeria, which he described as the country’s “greatest asset” due to its vast land resources.

Your Time Has Passed – Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cautioned Nigerians against falling for opposition propaganda ahead of the 2027 elections, while highlighting the transformative achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

During a thanksgiving service at Saint James Anglican Church in Asokoro, Abuja, the former Rivers State governor criticised Mr Peter Obi.

He said Obi and other coalition leaders would not return to power because their time had passed.

He warned religious leaders not to repeat what he called their “worst mistake” during the 2023 elections.

“The church almost made the worst mistake in 2023. Some of us wouldn’t be here today if things had gone differently in 2023. Nigerians must be very careful this time around. Don’t allow propaganda to deceive you,” he said.

Targeting Obi, Wike questioned his performance as Anambra State governor: “Some of you don’t know somebody, you just act with emotion. For eight years, he was governor. He never conducted local government elections. Never. That time, Nigerians were not angry; they were happy that you refused to conduct local government elections in the eight good years you were governor.

“That one, you defined as democracy. Government of all the local governments, and none of you asked any questions? Now they go back to say, ‘democracy is not working’. But it worked on your own when you stayed alone to be the chairman of the local government and the governor, the only man.

“The time has passed. They will not have the opportunity again. You say you formed a coalition for 18 months, which means the president was in office for six months when you started forming a coalition. They cannot stay out of power. Unfortunately, they have stayed out and will not return,” he said.

While acknowledging present economic challenges, Wike maintained that the administration was making the tough but necessary decisions to revive what he described as a dead economy.

“The country was run down. It takes hard decisions to fix it. We can’t expect miracles in two years. Look at states now receiving ₦50 billion monthly—some of us got just ₦14 billion as governors. That’s the difference this administration has made,” he said.

Wike also dismissed opposition figures as failed leaders who only became concerned about Nigeria’s problems after losing power.

“People had eight years, twenty years in government, but did nothing. When they were in office, Nigerians weren’t ‘angry.’ It’s only now that they’re out that they claim Nigerians are suffering.

“Ask them: What did you do when you had the chance? Someone was the Senate President for eight years but couldn’t build a road in his local government. Another was Speaker for eight years, minister for eight years, yet they now claim they want to ‘rescue Nigeria.’ Rescue your stomach, not Nigeria!” he said.

The minister highlighted key developments in the FCT, attributing progress to President Tinubu’s political will—particularly the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Structure.

“People forget. The FCT never had permanent secretaries before. Never! They were always posted from federal service. Today, our civil servants can aspire to become permanent secretaries.

“Before now, it was difficult to access funds. Mr President pulled us out of the TSA, which was stagnating. Now we deliver projects left, right and centre,” he said.

Wike also addressed the previous mismanagement of the International Conference Centre (ICC), contrasting it with recent revenue gains:

“They were paying just ₦50 million yearly to the government. We shut it down as an eyesore. After renovation? ₦700 million in three weeks! The same people now want to ‘rescue Nigeria.’ Rescue from what?” he said.

The minister promised even more visible transformations in the FCT within 12 months.

“If the President weren’t committed, I wouldn’t get funds. I assure you, in the next year, you’ll see what will happen in Abuja,” he said.

Wike concluded with a direct appeal to the church:

“Pray for President Bola Tinubu. Forget those who lost their chance to fix Nigeria. They won’t get another opportunity,” he concluded.