The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to take responsibility for the 2027 general elections, declaring that citizens must see themselves as candidates and polling agents in the quest to reclaim the country’s future.
Obi made the call on Friday at an NDC town hall meeting in Oregun, Lagos State, where he also condemned an attack by suspected political thugs on party supporters during the gathering.
The attackers, reportedly armed with cutlasses, cudgels and stones, disrupted the meeting, leaving participants scrambling for safety, with some sustaining injuries.
Addressing the gathering, the former Anambra State governor assured Nigerians that their sacrifices and commitment to building a better country would not be in vain, insisting that his political movement was focused on serving the people and responding to their needs.
He stressed that the meeting was not a campaign rally but promised that the NDC would take its message to every part of Lagos State ahead of the 2027 elections.
Obi described Lagos as critical to Nigeria’s economic growth, lamenting that the state was yet to fully harness its potential to drive national development.
He said he and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, were committed to building a united and productive Nigeria through policies that would address the country’s economic and security challenges.
Outlining his proposed administration’s priorities, Obi pledged to tackle insecurity, corruption, unemployment and electricity shortages, promising decisive action against kidnappers and other criminal elements.
He declared that Nigerians would be able to travel freely across the country without fear of abduction, while promising that his government would fight corruption and ensure accountability in the management of public resources.
On electricity, the NDC presidential candidate promised that Nigeria would generate, transmit and distribute at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity within two years if elected.
He also pledged to make basic education compulsory and free, adding that every ward across the country would have a functional primary healthcare centre.
Obi further advocated a shift from a consumption-driven economy to one centred on production, industrialisation and job creation, lamenting the closure and relocation of factories that previously provided employment opportunities for Nigerians.
Questioning the utilisation of funds reportedly saved from the removal of fuel subsidy, he challenged the Federal Government to explain how the claimed N15.8 trillion savings had improved the lives of ordinary citizens.
He argued that a fraction of the amount could have been invested in expanding access to education, particularly for millions of out-of-school children.
According to him, building 40,000 five-classroom blocks at N25 million each would cost approximately N1 trillion, a move he said could help bring millions of children back into the classroom.
Taking a swipe at President Bola Tinubu, Obi questioned the President’s capacity to meet the demands of the office, arguing that Nigeria needed a leader with the energy and availability required to address its numerous challenges.
He said the country could no longer afford leadership that was disconnected from the urgent needs of its citizens.
On the attack at the town hall, Obi described the incident as a reflection of the kind of Nigeria the people must reject, recalling the humanitarian tragedy in Yelwata, Benue State, where he said he witnessed the devastating consequences of violence on families.
He insisted that Nigeria must become a country where citizens could live without fear of violence and insecurity.
Also speaking, the NDC governorship candidate in Lagos State, Funsho Doherty, praised supporters who remained committed despite the disruption, describing them as the heroes of the movement.
Doherty expressed confidence that the party would win the 2027 elections through popular support, insisting that electoral victory should come from the people rather than control of security institutions.
He maintained that Nigerians had the power to determine the country’s political future through their votes.
Similarly, the NDC House of Representatives candidate for Lagos Mainland, Olatunji Sanni, condemned the attack and called on security agencies to strengthen efforts to protect citizens and prevent political violence.
Meanwhile, the incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of political gatherings as parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections.
