By Sunny A. David, Awka
The presidential campaign for the January 16, 2027 election has officially commenced, with the Peter Obi Media Office outlining the major issues expected to shape the campaign of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Gregory Obi.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, and signed by the spokesman of the Peter Obi Media Office, Idris Zekeri Jnr., the campaign office said the 150-day campaign period would give Nigerians an opportunity to examine the records, policies and leadership visions of the presidential candidates before making their choice.
The media office described Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, as the “Candidate of Conscience,” saying his political career has been associated with integrity, accountability and prudent management of public resources.
According to the statement, the central focus of Obi’s campaign would be to move Nigeria from “consumption to production” while reducing the cost of governance, strengthening the education and healthcare sectors, improving national security and expanding economic opportunities for young Nigerians.
The campaign office maintained that Obi’s political appeal was not built around ethnicity, religion or regional considerations, but on what it described as competence, capacity, character, compassion and commitment.
It urged Nigerians to critically examine the records and policy proposals of all presidential candidates rather than being influenced solely by campaign slogans, political sentiments or ethnic and religious considerations.
“For us in the Peter Obi Media Office, these 150 days are crucial because they mark a journey that will culminate on January 16, 2027, when Nigerians decide not only who becomes president but also what kind of nation Nigeria will evolve into,” the statement said.
The media office presented the election as a choice between the longstanding challenges of waste, division and unfulfilled promises and a different approach based on competence, accountability, productivity and hope.
It said Obi would ask voters to assess him based on his record, ideas and character rather than his ethnic background, religious identity or political connections.
The statement also highlighted Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra State, particularly his administration’s emphasis on education, healthcare, infrastructure and fiscal responsibility, describing these as indicators of the leadership style he intends to bring to the national level.
“Governance is neither a personal inheritance nor a reward for political loyalty,” the statement said, stressing that leadership should be earned through “verifiable competence, character, and measurable outcomes.”
The campaign office further called on Nigerians to listen to all presidential candidates and examine their records, ideas and ability to tackle the country’s economic difficulties, insecurity, unemployment and institutional weaknesses.
It said the campaign should focus on the kind of country Nigerians want to build rather than primordial political considerations.
The statement concluded by urging Nigerians to listen to Obi and consider his proposed direction for the country.
“Let the campaign begin. Let the people decide. And let Nigeria choose hope over fear, competence over propaganda, and conscience over convenience,” the media office said.
