Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called for a credible electoral process in the 2027 general election, insisting that the votes of Nigerians must be allowed to determine the outcome.
Obi made the demand on Thursday during a town hall meeting in Rivers State, where he criticised what he described as the growing practice of political candidates relying on others to conduct campaigns on their behalf.
The former Anambra State governor contrasted the current political environment with the campaign culture of earlier generations, recalling how prominent nationalist Nnamdi Azikiwe reportedly travelled extensively to engage voters directly.
“I saw a newspaper from the ’60s which said Azikiwe campaigned in 43 cities within a month. Today, people sit in their houses and outsource campaigns to the people.
“Today, we see governors and political appointees giving orders that they must win. They are even arrogant and threaten other people.
“Let me tell you, all that stress will come to an end. Our votes this time must count.
“Anybody who refuses to allow votes to count in 2027 must be counted as well. We have heard enough of this nonsense. All these threats must come to an end.
“Let whoever wants to be anything come out and speak to us. That’s what Kwankwaso and I are going to do this afternoon.
“Leadership cannot be outsourced. If you want to lead, you have to answer to the people, and I assure you, as your Chief Servant, that I will be speaking to Nigerians daily, weekly and monthly.”
Obi said political leadership should involve direct engagement with citizens rather than relying on intermediaries to communicate with the electorate.
He further stressed that aspiring leaders must be prepared to interact with Nigerians and respond directly to their concerns, adding that he would maintain regular engagement with citizens as part of his political approach ahead of 2027.
His remarks come as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition figures and political parties increasingly focusing on voter participation, electoral credibility and accountability.
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