Peter Obi has alleged that the Federal Government is plotting to prevent him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Obi made the allegation while speaking at a leadership programme organised by the NextGen Mentorship and Leadership Initiative at Madonna University in Okija, Anambra State.
According to the former Anambra State governor, powerful interests within the government are determined to ensure that he does not appear on the ballot in the next presidential election.
“If you know what they are doing to ensure that I’m not on the ballot in 2027, you will be surprised.
“The Nigerian government is doing everything to ensure that I do not contest in this election, but I’m not looking at the obstacles but at the destination.
“I’m rather focused on the fruitfulness of the destination and that is what keeps me going,” he said.
Despite the alleged attempts to frustrate his ambition, Obi said he remains committed to the democratic process and is confident that the will of Nigerians will ultimately prevail.
Reacting to Friday’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which set aside an earlier ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, Obi insisted the decision would not derail his political aspirations.
“They cannot stop me. They will fail. Let me assure you, it is not the end of the road. We are committed to this democracy, and those who want to kill this democracy are trying to hurt the society.
“The reactionary elements in Nigeria, those who are bent on holding Nigeria down, do not want it to work, but I can assure you it would work. I have confidence that I will pull through because the will of the people must prevail,” he said.
Obi also challenged Bola Tinubu and other presidential hopefuls to a public debate on their plans for the country.
He said his interest in the presidency was driven by a desire to rebuild Nigeria rather than personal ambition.
“I challenge any of those contesting to a debate to say what they want to do for this country, including President Bola Tinubu. I’m not saying it to make you happy but to change Nigeria and make it work.
“I’m not desperate to be President but desperate to see Nigeria work. Go and obtain your PVC. If you don’t vote, you are hurting your future. When you have your PVC, do not vote for me because I’m an Igbo man. Vote for me because I’m the most qualified,” he said.
Obi added that he envisions a country where opportunities are available to every citizen regardless of ethnic or religious background.
“It is not about Igbo people, but I want a Nigeria where the child of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody. We want a country that will work. The greatest beneficiaries of my presidency will be the North,” he said.
However, the All Progressives Congress rejected Obi’s claims and urged him to respect democratic institutions.
The party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, said Obi should pursue his grievances through the courts rather than criticise the judiciary or implicate the President.
“He cannot be seeking to rule Nigeria and be undermining one of the key institutions of democracy. The judiciary is one of the institutions of democracy and must be respected, whether the judgment is in your favour or against you.
“Is it not the same judiciary that said the NDC should be registered even when INEC said the NDC had not met the requirements? Now, the same judiciary has said all necessary parties should be heard before making the order in the first instance.
“In law, everybody knows that a court that made an order can set it aside when necessary parties have not been heard. So, if the same court that granted the order has now set it aside, why bring the President into this? He should go and settle his case in court rather than drag the President into it,” Basiru said.
Neither the Federal Government nor the Presidency has publicly responded to Obi’s allegation that it is attempting to prevent him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
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