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In a bold and far-reaching declaration, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has categorically told millions of his supporters across Nigeria and in the diaspora: “I will be on the ballot in 2027, even if for just one term.”

Speaking during a widely attended Twitter Spaces session (now X Spaces) on Sunday night, Obi addressed burning national issues, the ongoing crisis within the Labour Party, and his readiness to run again for the highest office in Nigeria.

On 2027 Presidential Run:
Obi left no room for speculation about his political future:
“I will be on the ballot for the Presidency in 2027. If there is any form of agreement that will restrict me to 4 years in office, I will comply with the agreement and be ready to leave office by 28th May, 2031,” he affirmed.

Dismissing recent media speculations about a possible joint ticket with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Obi said:
“I have not joined in any form of discussion on joint tickets including with Atiku.”

However, he admitted ongoing coalition talks with like-minded Nigerians determined to rescue the country from what he described as its current drift towards total collapse.

Coalition Talks Must Be About Nigeria’s Survival
While acknowledging consultations with other political blocs, Obi stressed that any coalition must focus on addressing the country’s existential crises:
“If the coalition is not about stopping the killings in Benue, Zamfara… how to revive our economy, how to make our industries productive, how to put food on the tables of Nigerians… count me out,” Obi said pointedly.
He continued: “Nigeria is currently at war. We need to do something about it.”

Obi on Tinubu’s Foreign Trips: “Why 10 Days in St Lucia?”
In a scathing critique of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s travel pattern, Obi slammed the President’s decision to spend 8 to 10 days in St Lucia for a state visit while Nigeria battles widespread insecurity and economic hardship:

“In two years, Tinubu has not spent one night in any state in Nigeria apart from Lagos, yet he is going to spend 8 nights in St Lucia, a place smaller than Ajegunle,” Obi said.
“St Lucia is about the size of Ilorin, Nigeria’s 10th largest city. President Tinubu has never slept a night in any state of Nigeria outside Lagos since assuming office in 2023,” he added, describing the trip as misplaced priority.

Labour Party Crisis: Obi Insists on Supreme Court-backed Leadership
On the lingering crisis within the Labour Party, Obi made it clear that efforts were ongoing to get the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the Nenadi Usman-led leadership as affirmed by the Supreme Court:
“We are working around the clock to get INEC to endorse the Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party based on the Supreme Court ruling,” he noted.

On Zoning and National Unity
Taking a firm position on power rotation, Obi said:
“I believe in the rotation of government between North and South. I implemented it in Anambra as a governor.”

2027 Will Be Different: “Votes Must Count This Time”
Obi pledged that 2027 would witness a new level of political engagement and electoral accountability:
“We will do things differently in 2027. We will follow a non-violent approach and insist that the right thing will be done before the result announcement in Abuja. Our votes in 2027 will count, and we will ensure they count.”

Key Priorities: Security, Education, Poverty Eradication, and Anti-Corruption
On his governance blueprint for his first 100 days in office if elected, Obi promised to hit the ground running with clear targets:

“Three things to follow up with in the first 100 days… prioritise security, education, and poverty eradication; cut costs and shun corruption,” Obi outlined.

Sending a strong anti-corruption signal, Obi pledged:
“My family will not be involved in corruption. Funds will be channelled into key critical sectors. My presidency will ensure there is a strong opposition in party politics. There will be no defection of elected officials to other parties when I am in charge.”

On The State of Governance:
Lamenting the current state of the nation, Obi said:
“Imagine in this country, people are dying in Benue, Borno, and other parts of the country, and our leaders are commissioning bus stops and holidaying.”

“We Need Leaders Ready to Die for Nigeria”
Emphasizing the need for servant leadership, Obi declared:
“My past speaks loudly for me. Wherever there was an issue in Anambra State, I was there physically. Anybody who wants to serve should be ready to put even their life on the line for the lives of Nigerians.”

He concluded with a dig at Nigeria’s international reputation:
“Nobody abroad takes you seriously if you don’t have a stable government.”

As the 2027 elections draw closer, Obi’s latest declaration is set to energize his support base, ignite fresh political debates, and place him squarely back at the center of Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.

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