The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Gregory Obi, has delivered a sobering but energised message to party leaders at the second National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, calling for sacrifice, humility, and a radical shift toward grassroots politics as the party positions itself for the 2027 general elections.
Obi, addressing a hall filled with national leaders, senators, former lawmakers, and state chairmen, acknowledged early disruptions to the meeting and apologised for scheduling constraints that saw him attend another engagement in Lagos before joining the NEC session.
Despite the informal tone of his opening remarks, Obi quickly shifted into what many described as a hard-hitting reflection on the party’s pace, structure, and expectations, warning that the NDC must avoid the mistakes of established political parties that remain disconnected from citizens.
He described the NDC as a “young but fast-moving political formation” that has, within a short span, gone through conventions, primaries, and internal restructuring processes that typically take older parties years to complete.
“This party is barely months old, yet we have moved through conventions and primaries in a way that even long-established parties struggle with,” he said. “That tells us one thing—we must be prepared for sacrifice.”
Obi repeatedly emphasised sacrifice as the foundation of the party’s survival, urging members who may feel sidelined by internal processes to remain patient and committed to the larger vision.
He insisted that political competition within the party must not translate into division, stressing that losses in primaries should be viewed as temporary setbacks rather than permanent exclusion.
“In this journey, today’s disappointment is not the end of tomorrow’s opportunity,” he said. “What matters is that we remain one family. Nobody is left behind.”
The former Anambra State governor used the opportunity to issue a broader critique of elite-driven politics in Nigeria, warning that governance disconnected from citizens would continue to produce national instability.
According to him, the real test of the NDC would not be in Abuja meetings or internal conventions, but in how deeply the party embeds itself in communities across the country.
“We cannot build a party that will change Nigeria if we only operate from Abuja,” he said. “We must go to the villages, the local governments, the wards. That is where Nigeria truly lives.”
Obi announced that the party leadership would embark on nationwide engagements ahead of the next NEC meeting, with plans for structured visits to all states of the federation to directly interface with members and understand local realities.
He stressed that leadership must be physically present in communities struggling with insecurity, failing infrastructure, and economic hardship, rather than relying solely on reports and political briefings.
“You cannot understand Nigeria from comfort zones,” he said. “You must see the roads, the schools, the insecurity challenges. That is where leadership begins.”
The NDC candidate also drew attention to Nigeria’s worsening security situation, referencing rising cases of kidnappings, school attacks, and general insecurity that have disrupted education and daily life across several regions.
However, he said he would reserve deeper political commentary for the official campaign season, insisting that the current focus must remain on strengthening internal party cohesion and building trust among members.
Obi urged party leaders to embrace tolerance and reconciliation, particularly in the aftermath of primaries, noting that internal disputes must not be allowed to weaken the party’s long-term ambition.
He assured members that the party would develop a more inclusive governance culture if entrusted with national leadership, where participation, fairness, and accommodation would define decision-making.
“When we get the opportunity to govern, this party must reflect inclusion, fairness, and respect for all,” he said.
The meeting, which began on a cautious note, gradually evolved into a high-energy session of solidarity as delegates responded to Obi’s remarks with chants and renewed expressions of support for the party’s leadership.
By the end of the NEC session, party leaders reaffirmed commitments to unity, grassroots mobilisation, and internal discipline, as the NDC continues to position itself as a major contender ahead of 2027.
Obi concluded with a direct appeal for collective patience and endurance, describing the party’s journey as demanding but necessary.
“This is not an easy road,” he said. “But if we stay together, we will build something that Nigeria has never seen before.”