Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has formally opened his campaign for the 2027 presidential election, promising to focus on issues affecting Nigerians rather than ethnicity or religion.
Obi’s campaign comes as political parties officially begin preparations for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.
The former Anambra State governor has positioned his campaign around issues including governance, economic development, security, employment and the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
In remarks associated with the launch, Obi said his campaign would focus on the major concerns confronting Nigerians and would not be driven by ethnic or religious considerations.
The emphasis on issue-based politics comes shortly after major presidential candidates and political parties signed the first National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 elections.
The accord committed political actors to peaceful campaigns and called on candidates to avoid hate speech, violence, ethnic and religious incitement and other conduct capable of undermining the electoral process.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Peter Obi and other political actors were among those involved in the peace initiative, although Atiku Abubakar was absent from the signing ceremony.
Obi’s declaration therefore places him firmly into the emerging 2027 campaign contest, where he is expected to compete against Tinubu and other opposition candidates.
The NDC candidate is seeking to build on the support he attracted during the 2023 presidential election, while presenting his current campaign as one centred on national issues and governance rather than identity politics.
With the campaign season now underway, Nigerians will increasingly be presented with competing policy proposals from the presidential candidates as the election approaches.