Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has confirmed his intention to run for president again in the 2027 general election, pledging to serve a single four-year term if elected.

Obi made the announcement during a live session on X Spaces on Sunday night, where he addressed questions from supporters both in Nigeria and the diaspora. His media spokesman, Ibrahim Umar, issued a formal statement on Monday confirming the declaration.

“If the coalition is not about stopping the killings in Benue, Zamfara, how to revive our economy, how to make our industries productive, how to put food on the tables of Nigerians… Count me out. Nigeria is currently at war. We need to do something about it,” Obi said, dismissing speculation about a joint ticket with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, while expressing openness to coalitions aimed at solving Nigeria’s pressing problems.

Obi also promised to restore stability in Nigeria within the first two years of his administration if elected. “I will bring stability in Nigeria within two years in office. Leaders of Nigeria should sit down in Nigeria and fix Nigeria,” he said.

Addressing the ongoing internal crisis within the Labour Party, Obi disclosed that work was in progress to secure INEC recognition for the Nenadi Usman-led faction, in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling.

Speaking on power rotation, Obi stated, “I believe in the rotation of government between North and South. I implemented it in Anambra as a governor.”

On President Bola Tinubu’s recent trip to St. Lucia, Obi criticised the president’s absence from Nigeria. “St Lucia is about the size of the 10th largest city of Nigeria, Ilorin. President Tinubu has never slept a night in any state of Nigeria outside Lagos since the assumption of office in 2023. PBAT to stay in St Lucia for 10 days,” he said.

Looking ahead to 2027, Obi promised a different approach. “We will do things differently in 2027. We will follow a non-violent approach and insist that the right thing will be done before the result announcement in Abuja. Our votes in 2027 will count, and we will ensure they count,” he said.

Obi outlined three top priorities for his first 100 days in office: security, education, and poverty reduction. He also promised clean governance: “My family will not be involved in corruption. Funds to be channelled into key critical sectors.”

He vowed to uphold political integrity by stopping defections among elected officials. “There will be no defection of elected officials to other parties when I am in charge,” he declared.

Criticising the current government’s priorities, Obi stated, “Imagine in this country, people are dying in Benue, Borno, and other parts of the country], and our leaders are commissioning bus stops and holidaying.”

He concluded with a pledge to uphold values-driven leadership:
“To bring order in governance, I will prioritise security, education and pulling people out of poverty. To do this is by cutting the cost of governance and fighting corruption from day one.

“My past speaks loudly for me. Wherever there was an issue in Anambra State, I was there physically. Anybody who wants to serve should be ready to put their life on the line for the lives of Nigerians. Nobody abroad takes you seriously if you don’t have a stable government.”