Tinubu’s govt plotting to stop my presidential bid – Obi

Peter Obi, Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has alleged that the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government is making every effort to prevent him from contesting the 2027 Presidential election.

Obi made the allegation on Friday while speaking at a leadership programme organised by the NextGen Mentorship and Leadership Initiative at Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State.

According to him, despite mounting pressure and obstacles, he remains determined to participate in the election.

“If I tell you what I am going through today, I will not be here. People asked me, ‘Are you still going to Madonna?’ And I said, ‘Yes. I’m going there.’ They said with all that is happening in Nigeria, you are still going there, and I said, ‘Yes. I have seen the worst of it.’ Today, the Federal Government of Nigeria is doing everything possible to ensure that I am not a candidate in this election, but I’ll tell you that they won’t win,” Obi said.

He urged Nigerians, particularly young people, not to be discouraged by challenges.

“If you live a life where there is no obstacle, then you are not living. Don’t look at the obstacles; the obstacles will always be there. I’m not looking at the obstacles but at the destination. I’m rather focused at the fruitfulness of the destination, and that is what keeps me going,” he said.

Obi also challenged President Tinubu and other presidential candidates to a public debate on their plans for Nigeria.

“I challenge any of those contesting to a debate to say what they want to do for this country, including President Bola Tinubu. I’m not saying it to make you happy but to change Nigeria and make it work,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor maintained that his ambition is driven by a desire to rebuild the country rather than personal interest.

“I’m not desperate to be Nigerian President, but desperate to see Nigeria work. Go and obtain your PVC. If you don’t vote, you are hurting your future. When you have your PVC, do not vote for me because I’m an Igbo man. I’m not contesting the election because I’m an Igbo man, but vote for me because I’m the most qualified.

“It is not about Igbo people, but I want a Nigeria where the child of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody. We want a country that will work. The greatest beneficiaries of my presidency will be the north,” Obi added.

Obi also reacted to Friday’s Federal High Court judgement in Lokoja, which nullified an earlier ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.

Justice Isah Dashen held that the earlier judgement was constitutionally defective because it was delivered without hearing all interested parties, rendering the process null and void. The court consequently ordered all parties to return to the status quo pending a fresh determination of the matter.

However, Obi insisted that the ruling would not derail his political ambition.
“They can not stop me. They will fail. Let me assure you, it is not the end of the road. We are committed to this democracy, and those who want to kill this democracy are trying to hurt society.

“The reactionary elements in Nigeria, those who are bent on holding Nigeria down, do not want it to work, but I can assure you it would work. I have confidence that I will pull through because the will of the people must prevail,” Obi added.