The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi has challenged all presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 election to present their credentials, defend their records and subject their plans for the country to public scrutinize.
Obi made the call at a press briefing to flagoff the party’s campaign, arguing that candidates seeking to lead Nigeria must have the courage to engage directly with citizens and answer questions about their records and vision.
“Every candidate that seeks the presidency must have the courage to come before the people, answer their questions, defend their records and subject their vision to public scrutiny. True leadership requires presence and empathy. No one can lead from the front without standing with the communities across Nigeria,” he said at the event in Anambra on Friday.
The former Anambra State governor said genuine leadership required candidates to be physically present among Nigerians, particularly communities affected by insecurity and natural disasters.
“True leadership requires presence and empathy. No one can lead from the front without standing with the communities across Nigeria devastated by banditry, criminality, terrorism or flooding. You cannot truly lead a people you are unwilling to visit, listen to and understand,” Obi said.
Obi added that one cannot lead from the front without standing with Nigerians devastated by banditry, criminality, terrorism, and flooding.
“You cannot truly lead a people you are unwilling to visit, listen to, and understand,” he said.
“Today, I make a clear commitment that I and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso will take our message directly to Nigerians. We will listen to them, understand their concerns, and engage them openly. We will not delegate this process.
“We will answer the questions, defend our record and character, and present our plan to rebuild Nigeria.”
Obi said that any presidential candidate unwilling to travel across the country to engage directly with citizens would lack the capacity to govern.
He added that he is committed to commencing the journey of “resetting Nigeria by uniting it, securing it, on the path of economic and inclusive growth, and moving our country from consumption to production”.
