Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has declared that he will contest the 2027 presidential election, stating that he will not be intimidated by the large number of governors belonging to the All Progressives Congress.
Obi, who was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, said several attempts had been made to discourage him from participating in the next presidential race but insisted that he would not be deterred.
Speaking to supporters in Njikoka, Anambra State, on Friday, Obi said Nigeria is currently in a dire state and requires urgent redemption.
According to him, his ambition is not driven by desperation for power but by a desire to see a functioning Nigeria.
“Nigeria has collapsed and already lying on the ground. Nigeria is not working because many rich Nigerians are hungry and greedy. They have everything they need, but still scavenging for more.
“This is an empowerment programe, but you will be surprised that many well to do persons will come here to struggle for things they have no need for. Go to their compound you will see better vehicles than the ones they are struggling for.
“This country is skewed against the poor, and that is why we are working to become President. We want a country where the son of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody.
“I have always said it that I’m not desperate to be the President of Nigeria, but I’m desperate to see a Nigeria that works.
“You all know that I’m now in African Democratic Congress. People have been asking me why I left LP, but I told them that we have been in court in Labour Party over leadership, and we have been securing favourable judgement, but Independent National Electoral Commission refused to recognize us, but when I left on 31 December, they recognized the same orders they were rejecting.
“You see all the things they have been tinkering with the constitution, some of them are because they don’t want me to contest. But I want to tell them that with their 30 governors, they should make the election free and fair and see who wins.
“I want to announce to you all that no matter what they do, I must contest the election. Let them declare a free and fair contest, bring the ball to the middle of the field and declare it started, and lets see what happens,” Obi said.
