Peter Obi says the Federal Government is working hard to keep him off the 2027 ballot. The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress made this claim on Friday at Madonna University in Okija, Anambra State.
Obi was speaking at a leadership programme organised by NextGen Mentorship and Leadership Initiative. He told the gathering that many people had questioned whether he'd still attend the event given current circumstances.
"I said yes, I'm going there," he noted. According to him, he's already endured the worst Nigeria has to offer.
In his words: "The Federal Government of Nigeria is doing everything possible to ensure that I am not a candidate in this election, but I'll tell you that they won't win."
Obi stressed that obstacles are part of any meaningful journey. He said he refuses to focus on hurdles but rather keeps his eyes on the ultimate goal.
"I'm not looking at the obstacles but at the destination," he told the students. "I'm rather focused at the fruitfulness of the destination and that is what keeps me going."
He challenged all prospective presidential candidates to a public debate. President Bola Tinubu, he said, should be included in that invitation.
"I challenge any of those contesting to a debate to say what they want to do for this country, including President Bola Tinubu," Obi said. "I'm not saying it to make you happy but to change Nigeria and make it work."
The former Anambra governor denied being driven by personal ambition. His motivation, he insisted, is seeing Nigeria succeed as a nation.
"I'm not desperate to be Nigerian President but desperate to see Nigeria work," he stated. Obi urged the students to obtain their permanent voter cards immediately.
He made an important distinction about voting criteria. "Do not vote for me because I'm an Igbo man.
Vote for me because I'm the most qualified," he said.
Obi painted a vision of a merit-based society. "I want a Nigeria where the child of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody," he told reporters.
He also promised that his presidency would greatly benefit northern Nigeria. "The greatest beneficiaries of my presidency will be the north," Obi added.
His comments came just days after a Federal High Court decision. Justice Isah Dashen in Lokoja had set aside an earlier ruling that directed INEC to register the NDC.
The court found the previous judgment was constitutionally flawed. It said the decision was made without hearing from all interested parties involved.
INEC had registered the NDC on February 5, 2026 based on that earlier court order. The original judgment was delivered on December 10, 2025.
Despite the setback, Obi's party remains committed to participating in 2027. The NDC says it will still appear on the ballot regardless of Friday's court ruling.
