By Henry Umoru, Abuja
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), ahead of the 2027 general elections, Peter Obi has called on Nigerians to place the country’s unity first and vote for a candidate who is capable of bringing the nation together.
According to Obi, a nation divided cannot achieve substantial developmental progress, just as he emphasised the importance of electing a leader who can unite its people.
The former Anambra state governor said that citizens who wish to elect their preferred leader must commit to protecting their votes and staying at polling units until the ballots are counted during the 2027 presidential election.
Obi, who spoke at a global digital town hall yesterday night, virtually on Sunday evening, addressed Nigerians at home and abroad about voter mobilisation, election security, and measures to safeguard the electoral process.
He also urged his supporters to mobilise voters and ensure that polling agents are deployed throughout the country, saying “Our country needs unity.”
In a statement on Monday by the Spokesman of Peter Obi Media Office, POMR, Idris Zekeri, the NDC presidential candidate, said, “At present, we are not united. We are divided along ethnic and religious lines, yet, to the best of my knowledge, no tribe buys bread at a lower price, and no tribe buys fuel at a lower price. Similarly, no religion buys bread or fuel at a lower price. The poverty affecting our country today is widespread across the entire nation.
“No tribe enjoys greater security than another. Insecurity affects every part of the country. This is the same point I have consistently made.”
He said the country needed a president capable of bringing Nigerians together and working relentlessly to ensure national security. The former Anambra State governor made the remarks during the virtual gathering, which was streamed live on Sunday evening. Obi stated that Nigerians must remain engaged and demand that every vote be counted.
Obi said his campaign was focused on expanding its network of polling agents and working with other political parties to support free, fair, and credible elections. He also warned Nigerians not to let money or intimidation determine their electoral decisions, maintaining that either could jeopardise their future.
He said, “If you accept money from them, that is money they would otherwise have spent on security, hospitals, and education.”
Obi further urged stronger measures to address insecurity, calling on security agencies to receive the logistics and support required to protect Nigerians.
“We have security agencies, and they must function effectively. We must provide them with the logistics they need to perform their duties and ensure that we stand by them. We must make certain that they are properly equipped and that their families are cared for if anything happens to them or they become unavailable. We need a president who will lead from the front,” he said.
On election day, Obi called on voters to stay at their polling units after voting until the ballots had been counted, emphasising that citizens must actively participate in the process.
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