Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, urges Nigerians to turn out in large numbers for the 2027 general elections and protect their votes from the polling unit to the final declaration of results.
Mr Obi makes the call in a post on his official X account after engagements with supporters, party stakeholders and residents in Kogi, Benue and Enugu states.
The former Anambra governor says Nigerians must remain actively involved in the democratic process to ensure their votes count.
“We urged our supporters to remain dedicated to the democratic process, turn out in large numbers to vote, and, above all, safeguard and defend their votes from the polling unit through the final declaration of results,” he says.
Mr Obi begins his latest engagements in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, where he meets party members and stakeholders alongside the NDC’s Kogi East senatorial candidate, High Chief Peter Ameh.
He says discussions focus on insecurity, healthcare, education, unemployment and poverty.
The presidential candidate later visits Otukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State and Obollo Afor in Enugu State, where he speaks with residents and traders.
According to Mr Obi, people across the communities raise similar concerns about insecurity, unemployment and poor public services.
“Across all these engagements, the concerns expressed by our people remain essentially the same. They seek security in their communities, meaningful employment opportunities for our youths, access to properly functioning hospitals and schools for their children, and the means and resources to lead decent, dignified lives,” he says.
He adds that such demands are basic expectations from government.
“These are not excessive demands. They represent the basic expectations citizens hold of a government dedicated to their welfare,” Mr Obi says.
He says Nigeria can succeed if government focuses on serving citizens.
Mr Obi’s latest appeal comes days after he tells supporters at a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, that he is prepared to stand with Nigerians who want to protect their votes.
A supporter at the meeting says Nigerians are “ready to die” to defend their mandate.
Mr Obi responds:
“Don’t be intimidated. Somebody said, ‘We are ready to die.’ Let me tell you, I’m equally ready to die. So you’re not alone.”
He also warns that attempts may be made to manipulate the electoral process but says Nigerians will be better prepared to resist such efforts.
Mr Obi is seeking the presidency for a second consecutive election after contesting three year’s ago election under the Labour Party.
He finished third in that election with 6,101,533 votes, behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, who scored 6,984,520 votes, while Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress won with 8,794,726 votes.
Mr Obi and the Labour Party challenged the result in court, alleging electoral irregularities. The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal dismissed the petition, while the Supreme Court later upheld Mr Tinubu’s victory.
For the 2027 election, Mr Obi has moved to the NDC, which has adopted him as its presidential candidate. He is running with former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate.
Atiku Abubakar is contesting under the African Democratic Congress, with former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
President Tinubu is also seeking a second term.
The Independent National Electoral Commission’s timetable provides for the 2027 general elections, with presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled alongside subsequent governorship and state assembly polls.
