The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has appealed to Nigerians to join hands with him to rescue the country from what he described as the shackles of bad governance.
The former Anambra State governor said the “Operation Rescue Nigeria” project was not about him as an individual but about the collective destiny of future generations who would bear the consequences of decades of poor leadership.
Obi, who spoke in Uyo on Saturday at the OBIDIENT Conference and official declaration for the African Democratic Congress, with the theme Activating the PO Effect in ADC, urged Nigerians to set aside their differences and unite ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He emphasised the need for proper transmission of election results, insisting that the country must get it right in 2027.
“Nigeria must get it right in 2027. Election results must be transmitted online in real time, and whoever fails to transmit results will be held liable. Democracy must work. I appeal to you to join hands with me to rescue this country,” he said.
Obi explained that he left the Labour Party when it became clear to him that the Independent National Electoral Commission would not recognise the party’s leadership and that the Federal Government did not want him on the ballot.
“I left the Labour Party when I got informed that as long as I remain in the party, INEC will not recognise its leadership, that the Federal Government doesn’t want me on the ballot. But I want to assure you that I will contest the coming election even if it is held in their bedroom, and if they don’t want to transmit the results, we will transmit them for them,” he said.
He alleged that the current administration had accumulated more loans than previous governments, warning that young people would bear the repayment burden.
“The current administration has collected more loans than every other administration, and most of these loans will be repaid between 2045 and 2050, when most of the people who plunged the country into this indebtedness are no more,” he added.
Obi assured supporters that his administration would prioritise heavy investment in education and healthcare if elected, noting that many great nations achieved progress through deliberate investment in human capital.
He added that he would work to lift people out of poverty as a strategy to reduce criminality.
The former governor said he planned to tour the entire country, including higher institutions, to understand the real challenges on the ground. He stressed that those supporting his ambition must place priority on the future and the well-being of citizens.
He also promised to fight corruption, saying the menace would be reduced significantly if leaders and their families stayed away from it.
“When I became governor of Anambra State, I advised my wife to forget the office of First Lady, against advice, because we were not elected together. I approved over 100 Certificates of Occupancy of government lands, but have none for myself or my family. If you find any, petition me to the appropriate authority,” he said.
Also speaking, the coordinator of the OBIDIENT Movement worldwide, Tanko Yunusa, urged Nigerians to mobilise across the country for the 2027 general election.
He asked supporters to channel their energy into the African Democratic Congress as the vehicle for transformation and victory.
In his remarks, the Akwa Ibom State coordinator of the OBIDIENT Movement, Dr Ben Smith, urged members to remain united, warning that divisions or factions could derail the vision of a new Nigeria.
“The 2027 presidential election is not about an individual but about a generation, jobs for the youths, security for our families, dignity for workers and hope for every Nigerian,” he said.
