Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has assured his supporters at home and abroad that he will contest the 2027 presidential election, vowing to deliver a leadership focused on stability, security, and economic revival.
He stated that he will be on the ballot for the Presidency in 2027 and is willing to serve one term in office, according to a statement issued and signed by Ibrahim Umar, spokesperson for the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), on Monday, June 30, 2025.
Obi made the declaration during an X Space interactive session with supporters on Sunday night, where he also addressed issues ranging from party affairs and national insecurity to the state of the economy and President Bola Tinubu’s foreign travels.
“If there is any form of agreement that will restrict me to four years in office, I will comply with the agreement and be ready to leave office by 28th May, 2031,” Obi declared, reaffirming his political ambition and readiness to serve for only four years if that becomes a condition for coalition support.
“I have not joined in any form of discussion on joint tickets, including with Atiku,” he said, stressing that any agreement limiting him to a single term would be respected.
Addressing the urgency of Nigeria’s current challenges, Obi confirmed his participation in ongoing coalition talks with other political actors. However, he maintained that the coalition must be built on shared patriotism and a commitment to solving the country’s pressing issues.
“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,” he warned.
Obi pledged to restore stability in the country within two years if elected, and urged Nigerians to join him in the effort to rebuild the nation.
“I will bring stability in Nigeria within two years in office. Leaders of Nigeria should sit down in Nigeria and fix Nigeria,” he said.
On developments within the Labour Party, Obi disclosed that efforts were ongoing to gain the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recognition for the Nenadi Usman-led faction of the party, in line with a recent Supreme Court judgment.
On the contentious issue of power rotation, Obi reiterated his long-standing support for federal character and balanced governance.
“I believe in the rotation of government between North and South. I implemented it in Anambra as a governor,” he said.
Obi also criticised President Tinubu’s reported travel to St Lucia, calling it inappropriate at a time when Nigerians are grappling with serious security and economic crises.
“In two years, Tinubu has not spent one night in any state in Nigeria apart from Lagos, yet he is going to spend 8 nights in St Lucia, a place smaller than Ajegunle.”
“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.”
Speaking on preparations for the 2027 general election, Obi said his campaign would be non-violent and focused on electoral justice.
“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 outlined his priorities for his first 100 days in office:
“Three things to follow up with in the first 100 days… prioritise on security, education and poverty eradication; cut costs and shun corruption. My family will not be involved in corruption. Funds to be channelled into key critical sectors.”
He also pledged to strengthen party politics and discourage post-election defections.
“My Presidency will ensure there is a strong opposition in party politics. There will be no defection of elected officials to other parties when I am in charge.”
Condemning the disconnect between Nigeria’s dire situation and the actions of its leaders, Obi said:
“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.”
Reaffirming his commitment to good governance, he added: “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.”
He concluded by referencing his track record as Anambra State governor: “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 even their life on the line for the lives of Nigerians.”
“Nobody abroad takes you seriously if you don’t have a stable government.”
In May, it was reported that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had reportedly offered Obi a proposed single-term coalition ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the report, the offer was made during a private meeting between Atiku and Obi in the United Kingdom earlier this year.
Atiku reportedly assured Obi that he would serve only one term and hand over power afterwards
“Atiku and Obi met earlier this year in the UK. That was where Atiku first mooted the idea of a coalition and urged Obi to be his running mate. Obi then asked for time to think it over and consult his loyalists,” one source had revealed.
Another insider confirmed, “But recent developments show that Obi has accepted to be Atiku’s running mate, and Atiku has also agreed to serve a single four-year term and hand over to the former Anambra State governor.
They have both agreed to sign a written agreement if necessary. Obi is trying to get the buy-in of his loyalists before this is formally announced.”
The proposed alliance revived memories of the 2019 presidential election, when Obi served as Atiku’s running mate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The pair lost that election to former President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
