ABUJA — In an uncommon display of cross-party alignment ahead of the 2027 presidential contest, the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, attended the official inauguration of the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Headquarters of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Abuja on Monday, September 7, 2026, declaring that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is fully qualified to lead the nation.
Addressing party leaders and supporters gathered in the Federal Capital Territory, Obi stated that his presence at the campaign headquarters commissioning was intended to signal an end to confrontational, bitter political rivalries and demonstrate that opposition figures must prioritize nation-building over individual desperation.
The former Anambra State governor reaffirmed that any candidate who emerges victorious in a genuinely free, fair, and credible 2027 election should receive the collective backing of all political actors to rescue the nation from economic hardship and security challenges.
Key Takeaways from Peter Obi’s Address
-
Affirmation of Leadership Capacity: Directly addressing the media and delegates regarding Makinde’s presidential bid under the APM platform, Obi stated: “We have a candidate who is contesting for President today, my dear brother Makinde. Is he qualified to be President? Yes, he is qualified.”
-
Rejection of Political Desperation: Obi emphasized that healthy democratic competition requires offering citizens distinct choices without hostility. “What we are doing today is to show you that, for us, we don’t have desperation. We want the people of Nigeria to make their choice,” he added.
-
Call for Post-Election Coalition for Governance: Warning that persistent hunger, poverty, and insecurity threaten national stability, Obi urged politicians to commit to working alongside whoever wins a transparent ballot: “Whoever wins genuinely from a free, fair, and credible election, all of us want to work together to save this country from collapse.”
-
Focus on Meritocracy & Social Protection: Obi reiterated his vision for a merit-based political culture, calling for a “social guarantee” that ensures “a child of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody” and urging politicians to align their disagreements strictly around poverty alleviation and public welfare.
