By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resist political manipulation and ensure that the 2027 general elections reflect the genuine choice of Nigerians.
Obi spoke in Ogugu, Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, during a thank-you tour to supporters following the emergence of High Chief Peter Ameh as the NDC’s Kogi East Senatorial candidate.
The former Anambra State governor, who was received by a large crowd of supporters, urged INEC to conduct the elections in a free, fair, transparent and credible manner, insisting that the electorate’s mandate must be respected.
He also called on presidential candidates to make the 2027 campaign issue-based and engage directly with Nigerians on the challenges affecting their daily lives.
“What is most important is that we want this campaign to be issue-based. We want all candidates to go round Nigeria and ask questions about the challenges confronting the people,” Obi said.
He said he had continued to interact with Nigerians during his nationwide engagements to better understand their concerns, urging political leaders to focus on practical solutions to insecurity, poverty, unemployment, education and food production.
“When I was coming to Kogi State today, I stopped at Obollo-afor, Otukpa Junction, and asked some of our elderly people what their challenges were. This is what I want other presidential candidates to do,” he said.
Obi said the next government must prioritise education, security and economic opportunities, stressing that Nigerians should be able to earn decent livelihoods.
Speaking with journalists, the NDC candidate said his major concern was not who would emerge president in 2027 but whether Nigerians would be able to protect their votes and have their choices reflected in the final results.
“I am not worried about what the outcome of the 2027 General Election will be. What worries me is the people and how they will protect their votes on election day. The votes of the people must be counted,” he said.
Obi also decried the level of hunger and poverty across the country, saying Nigeria needed visionary leadership to reverse the economic downturn and improve living conditions, particularly in rural communities.
He said Nigeria’s agricultural potential remained largely untapped because farmers lacked adequate support to expand production.
“Look at our rural areas with huge farmlands. Nobody is supporting the farmers in all ramifications to enable them to produce the food we need to feed the nation,” he said.
The NDC candidate urged voters to choose leaders based on competence, capacity, character, compassion and commitment to national development rather than sentiment or party affiliation.
Ameh, the NDC Kogi East senatorial candidate, said the region had no reason to remain impoverished despite its fertile land and abundant mineral resources.
He lamented the poor infrastructure in coal-producing communities, saying roads remained deplorable despite the daily movement of hundreds of trucks from the coal-mining areas.
Ameh also criticised the state of primary healthcare and other social infrastructure in Kogi East, urging voters to scrutinise candidates’ records, competence and capacity before voting.
He called on the electorate to vote and protect their votes in 2027, saying credible representation was critical to securing better roads, healthcare, schools and other basic amenities for the region.