“If I Am President, the North Will Celebrate Me” — Peter Obi

Presidential aspirant Peter Obi has said that Northern Nigeria will have every reason to celebrate if he is elected president in 2027. Speaking during an appearance on the Sunday Politics programme, Obi called on the region’s electorate to support his candidacy, stressing that he understands the deep-rooted challenges facing the North and is prepared to address them head-on.

Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party and is now a key figure in the opposition coalition formed through the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the North holds the greatest potential for Nigeria’s progress. He pointed to the region’s expansive arable land and significant voter base as major national assets that have remained underutilized due to persistent insecurity.

“The biggest asset of this country is in the North—the uncultivated lands, the human resources,” Obi said. “The criminality we face in the North today, I will deal with it. I want them to trust me.”

Criticizing past voting patterns, Obi urged citizens to shift away from tribal and religious sentiments and instead vote based on merit and competence. “We have voted for incompetence, we’ve voted for tribe, we’ve voted for religion; let’s vote for competence,” he said.

“If I am president, the North will celebrate me. I have an idea of the problem,” he added, promising targeted efforts to improve security and unlock economic development in the region.

More updates to follow.