By Ayomide Otitoju
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to turn out in large numbers for the 2027 general elections and protect their votes from the polling unit to the final declaration of results.
Obi made the call in a post on his official X handle following engagements with party supporters, stakeholders and residents in Kogi, Benue and Enugu states.
The former Anambra State governor said he began the latest round of engagements in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, where he met with party members and stakeholders alongside the NDC’s Kogi East senatorial candidate, High Chief Peter Ameh.
He said discussions focused on key challenges facing Nigerians, including insecurity, healthcare, education, unemployment and poverty.
Obi urged his supporters to remain committed to the democratic process and actively participate in protecting their votes.
“We urged our supporters to remain dedicated to the democratic process, turn out in large numbers to vote, and, above all, safeguard and defend their votes from the polling unit through the final declaration of results,” he said.
The NDC candidate also visited Otukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State and Obollo Afor in Enugu State, where he interacted with residents and traders along the routes.
According to him, concerns raised during the engagements were largely similar, particularly the need for security, employment opportunities, functional hospitals and schools, and improved livelihoods.
“These are not excessive demands. They represent the basic expectations citizens hold of a government dedicated to their welfare. As we move forward on this journey, our message remains unequivocal: Nigeria can succeed, and government can be made to serve its people,” Obi said.
His latest call came days after he told supporters at a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, that he was prepared to stand with Nigerians seeking to protect their votes in the 2027 election.
Responding to a supporter who said Nigerians were “ready to die” to defend their mandate, Obi urged them not to be intimidated.
The presidential hopeful also warned that attempts could be made to manipulate the electoral process but expressed confidence that Nigerians would be better prepared to resist such efforts.
Obi is seeking the presidency for a second consecutive time after contesting the 2023 election on the platform of the Labour Party. He finished third with 6,101,533 votes, behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, who polled 6,984,520 votes, and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, who won with 8,794,726 votes.
Obi and the Labour Party challenged the result in court, alleging electoral irregularities. The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal dismissed the petition in September 2023, while the Supreme Court later upheld Tinubu’s victory.
Ahead of the 2027 election, opposition politicians have intensified realignment and coalition-building efforts. Obi has moved to the NDC, which unveiled him as its presidential candidate in May. He is running alongside former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate.
His major opposition rival, Atiku, is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
The incumbent President, Tinubu, is also seeking a second term.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable, the 2027 general elections will begin on January 16, 2027, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for that date.
The final voter register is expected to be released on January 11, while campaigns are scheduled to end on February 18. A possible presidential runoff is slated for February 28, with governorship and State Assembly elections fixed for March 6, 2027.
