KADUNA, NIGERIA — Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, took their campaign to Kaduna State on Sunday, holding a town hall meeting with residents as part of the party’s ongoing engagement with citizens ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The meeting, held in Kaduna, gave residents and other participants the opportunity to raise questions and speak about issues affecting their communities and the country at large. Obi disclosed details of the engagement in a statement shared on his Facebook page after the meeting, describing it as an opportunity for the party’s presidential team and other candidates to interact directly with Nigerians.
The Kaduna meeting came after a similar town hall session held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, earlier in September. Obi said he attended the Kaduna programme alongside Kwankwaso and other candidates of the party. Before the town hall, the NDC team visited the Sheikh Muhammad Sambo Memorial Islamic Institute in Rigachikun, Kaduna.
The engagement in Kaduna focused on several issues that have continued to generate concern among Nigerians, including insecurity, poverty, healthcare, education, corruption, fuel costs, and the general state of the Nigerian economy. Obi said the meeting was also an opportunity for political leaders to hear directly from citizens rather than relying only on reports from officials and party structures.
One of the major areas discussed was insecurity. Obi said the NDC leadership would work towards creating an environment where Nigerians affected by insecurity could return safely to their communities. He specifically mentioned displaced Nigerians who have been unable to return to their homes, communities, and farms because of security concerns. He said addressing insecurity would be important to restoring economic activities and improving the living conditions of affected citizens.
“There is no reason why Nigerians should continue to live in fear in their own country. We will work to ensure that our people can return to their homes and farms, and that they can live and work without fear,” Obi stated.
He also spoke about the need to reduce poverty and expand opportunities for Nigerians. According to Obi, the country needs an economy that allows citizens to live decent and dignified lives. He said this would require greater attention to investment in sectors such as healthcare and education.
“We need an economy that works for everyone, not just a privileged few. That means investing in our people, in their health, in their education, and in their ability to earn a living. That is how we build a prosperous nation,” he said.
The issue of fuel costs also featured in Obi’s account of the Kaduna town hall. He said discussions covered corruption and what he described as inefficiencies linked to the fuel subsidy regime. The former governor maintained that reducing the burden of fuel costs on Nigerians should remain part of the wider conversation about economic management.
Obi, in his message after the Kaduna meeting, also called on other politicians to adopt a similar approach by engaging directly with Nigerians. “Let me use this opportunity once again to call on our opponents to also speak directly with the people and listen to their feedback,” Obi said.
He argued that direct interaction with citizens was an important part of democratic leadership. “The very essence of democracy is people-centred governance. Leaders and aspiring leaders must therefore leave their comfort zones and interface directly with the people they seek to serve,” he stated.
The former governor thanked the NDC leadership and those who organised the Kaduna meeting. He also commended residents who participated in the engagement. Obi said the interaction showed the importance of listening to citizens and understanding their concerns before seeking to lead them.
Obi ended his message by restating the campaign slogan associated with his political platform: “A New Nigeria is POssible, and Nigeria will be OK.”
The Kaduna town hall is part of a series of direct interactions between the NDC presidential candidates and citizens across the country. The party has been intensifying its campaign ahead of the 2027 elections, with Obi and Kwankwaso touring various states to present their agenda for economic transformation, security, and good governance.
