The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to visit all 36 states annually and hold regular town hall meetings with Nigerians if elected president in 2027.
Obi made the pledge during a TikTok livestream on Sunday, October 11, outlining what he described as an approach to governance built around public engagement, national inclusion and accountability.
The former Anambra State governor said he intended to ensure that every part of the country received attention, irrespective of ethnic, religious or regional differences.
“I want to see a thriving South-West, South-South, South-East, North-East, North-West, North-Central, everyone in Nigeria,” Obi said.
He added that he would spend holidays in different states across the country’s six geopolitical zones as part of his proposed effort to remain accessible to citizens.
Town hall meetings to explain government policies
Obi said he would organise monthly or bi-monthly town hall meetings to explain government decisions, discuss projects and give citizens opportunities to raise concerns.
“I will be available to them as their president. I will explain to them, because I’m sure I’ll be able to do monthly, bi-monthly town hall meetings to explain what we are doing, to explain why we must do A or B, as I did while I was governor,” he said.
The proposal centres on more frequent communication between the presidency and the public, potentially providing a platform for citizens to question government priorities and assess progress.
Regular public engagements can help improve transparency, but their effectiveness would depend on whether feedback informs policy decisions and whether commitments made during such meetings are followed by measurable action.
Candidate urges voters to look beyond regional identity
Obi also urged Nigerians to assess presidential candidates on competence, capacity, compassion, commitment and character rather than ethnic, religious or regional considerations.
His message comes as political parties and candidates begin building support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The pledge presents a proposed model of presidential accessibility, although its implementation would depend on scheduling, security arrangements, coordination with state governments and the demands of national administration.
If elected, Obi would need to translate the commitment into a workable programme that balances regular engagement with the practical responsibilities of governing a country of Nigeria’s size and diversity.
For voters, the key questions will include how such visits would be organised, what mechanisms would track citizens’ concerns and how the administration would report progress on issues raised during the meetings.