Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has pledged to unite the country, confront insecurity and fight corruption if elected president in the 2027 general election. Obi made the commitment during a town hall meeting in Calabar, Cross River State, where he met with party stakeholders and supporters to outline his priorities and hear directly from residents.
Speaking at the event, the former Anambra State governor identified national unity as the foundation of his proposed agenda. He argued that Nigeria is currently divided and that restoring a sense of shared purpose would give the country the strength required to tackle insecurity and other pressing national challenges.
“Nigeria is currently divided. We will work to unite this country, because uniting this nation would provide the strength needed to confront insecurity and other national challenges,” he said. “Our commitment is to unite Nigeria. Nigeria today is not united. If we unite Nigeria today, we will have the strength to fight insecurity.”
A firm stance on kidnapping and school attacks
Obi said his administration would not tolerate the prevailing security challenges, particularly kidnapping and attacks on schoolchildren. He vowed that security agencies under his watch would pursue abductors into their hideouts to ensure the safe rescue of kidnapped pupils.
“Anybody that kidnaps school children and goes into the bush, we will be in that bush with him, wherever it is. We are not scared of him,” he said.
Corruption and the welfare of citizens
On corruption, the presidential candidate promised to confront the menace decisively, insisting that public funds must be deployed for the benefit and welfare of Nigerians. He said his administration would pursue the fight with determination in order to discourage the diversion of public resources for personal gain.
“We will fight corruption head-on. We want people to stop stealing public money. Public money must be used for public good and for the welfare of the people,” he said.
Obi also pledged increased investment in education and healthcare, describing both sectors as critical to national development. According to him, his political partnership represents a new approach to governance, anchored on shared responsibility and a commitment to transforming the country.
“We represent a new Nigeria that is possible. We represent a governance that people have not seen in Nigeria before,” he said.
A meeting built around listening
The Cross River engagement was organised to give residents an opportunity to ask questions and express their concerns without restrictions. Obi urged participants to make comments and seek clarification freely, explaining that the purpose of the meeting was to listen to the people rather than to lecture them.
“The style is to listen to you. You are free to ask any question. No restriction. Make any comment. That is why we are here,” he said.
The Calabar town hall forms part of Obi’s broader effort to present his vision ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with unity, security, education, healthcare and the welfare of citizens at the centre of his message to voters.
