Tag: peter obi

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi stated that if large countries such as India can conduct elections and transmit results electronically, Nigeria has no reason not to adopt the same approach.

In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Tuesday, Obi said India, the world’s largest democracy, with nearly one billion registered voters and more than 60 percent actively participating in elections, remains a model.

According to him, the country has over one million polling stations and thousands of political parties, and conducts elections using technology that enables electronic transmission of results within days.

According to him, Nigeria, with only one-seventh of India’s population, has about 93 million registered voters, which is less than 10 percent of India’s voter base.

He added that with fewer than 20 percent of the polling stations and only about 1 percent of the political parties compared to India, it is deeply troubling that Nigeria still struggles to conduct elections, even when it records voter turnout below 20%.

The former Anambra State governor lamented that Nigeria still remains unable to consistently deliver free, fair, and credible elections or transmit results promptly, especially when compared to countries with far larger numbers than ours.

“The difference is leadership. In India, political leaders, legislators and judiciary work tirelessly for the welfare of their people and the future of their children, to do the right thing for the betterment of society, even amidst challenges.

“In Nigeria, many political figures instead implement policies that impoverish the people and threaten the future of our children.

“If we are to transform Nigeria, we must demand leaders who put the people first, govern with integrity, and plan for a better tomorrow,” he wrote.

Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has provided further insight into why he chose to leave the Labour Party, the political platform on which he contested the 2023 presidential election.

Obi revealed that he parted ways with the party after learning that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would not recognise its leadership.

He spoke on Sunday at the OBIDIENT Conference and Official Declaration for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, themed “Activating the PO Effect in ADC.”

Obi stated, “Democracy must work. I left the Labour Party when I was informed that, as long as I remained in the party, INEC would not recognize its leadership, and that the federal government did not want me on the ballot paper. But I want to assure you that I will contest the coming election—even if it is held in their bedroom—and if they refuse to transmit results, we will transmit them ourselves.” 

He assured Nigerians that, if elected, his administration would prioritize heavy investment in the education and health sectors, emphasizing that nations achieve greatness through intentional investment in human capital. Obi appealed for national unity, urging Nigerians to put aside differences to collectively rescue the country in the 2027 elections.

Describing his mission as “Operation Rescue Nigeria,” he stressed that it is not for personal gain but for the benefit of future generations who have suffered decades of misgovernance. He added, “Election results must be transmitted online in real time. Whoever fails to transmit results will have them transmitted for them.”

On corruption, Obi promised to reduce the menace by 60 percent, noting that leaders and their families must remain untainted. He cited his own tenure as governor, saying, “When I became governor of Anambra State, I advised my wife to forget about the office of the first lady. I approved over 100 Certificates of Occupancy of government lands, but none for myself or my family. If you find any, petition me to the appropriate authority.”

Dr. Tanko Yunusa, global coordinator of the OBIDIENT movement, called on Nigerians to mobilize nationwide for the 2027 general election, reinforcing the movement’s commitment to a participatory and transparent electoral process.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has reassured his supporters of his willingness to run in the 2027 presidential election.

He noted that he had in good authority that the federal government does not want him to contest, insisting that he will come out even if the elections are being held figuratively in their “bedroom.”

Speaking in Uyo at the OBIDIENT Conference and Official Declaration for ADC with the theme, Activating the PO Effect in ADC” on Saturday, Obi urged the people to join hands with him to rescue Nigeria for the future generations, who according to him will suffer the consequences of bad governance going on in the country for decades.

The former Anambra governor stated that the current administration have collected more loans than every other administration, adding that most of the loans will be repaid from 2045 and 2050 when most of the people who plunged the country into indebtedness must have gone.

According to him, Nigeria must get it right in 2027, election results must be transmitted online in real time and whoever fails to transmit results will be transmitted”

Obi, who assured that his administration will invest heavily in education and health if elected, averred that most of the great countries across the world achieved greatness through intentional investment in education, adding that he will do everything possible to pull people out of poverty to reduce criminality.

The presidential aspirant said he will tour the entire country and also all higher institutions to see the real challenges on ground, stressing that he wants to help fix Nigeria now that he has the strength to undertake any difficult task adding that those joining him to realize his ambition must understand that the priority is the future and wellbeing of the people.

He promised to rid Nigeria of corruption saying that the menace will be reduced by 60 percent once a leader and his family has nothing to do with corruption.

He added, ”When I became governor of Anambra State, I advised my wife to forget about the office of first lady because we were not elected together, I approved over 100 C of Os of government lands but have none for myself or family. If you find any, petition me to appropriate authority.

Also addressing the people, Dr Tanko Yunusa, the coordinator of OBIDIENT movement world-wide urged Nigerians to mobilize from every nook and cranny of the country for the 2027 general election.

He urged them to channel their collective energy into the African Democratic Congress as the vehicle for transformation and victory in 2027.

On his own, the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the OBIDIENT movement, Dr Ben Smith urged members to be united in pursuit of their goal as divisions or faction will derail the dream of a new Nigeria.

The Labour Party has responded to speculation about the possibility of Peter Obi returning to the party.

At a meeting of the Usman-led National Working Committee, NWC, on Tuesday, Darlington Okocha, the National Secretary described Obi as “a man of principle” and said his departure from the Labour Party to another party was a decision made after careful consideration.

“For him to have left Labour Party, I don’t see him as somebody that will come back again. He’s quite principled,” Okocha stated, noting that the party has wished Obi well in his new political journey.

He added that the Labour Party continues to have a competent and capable national leader, emphasizing that “integrity matters in everything we do,” commending Obi for maintaining his.

Okocha said questions about Obi’s return to the Labour Party must be set aside in light of the party’s current leadership strength.

Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has lamented that Nigeria has become one of the world’s hungriest and most insecure nations.

Peter Obi spoke in Asaba, Delta State, on Saturday, during the official declaration and integration of the state Obidient Movement into the African Democratic Congress, where he called on Nigerians to unite and rescue the country from bad governance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election decried the rising poverty level in the country, noting that about 150 million Nigerians were currently living below the poverty line, which he described as unacceptable.

“Our country today has more people living in poverty than China and India combined. These two countries are nearly three billion and we are just 250 million but we have more people living in poverty than the two of them combined,” Obi said.

He added, “Our country today is one of the most insecure country of the world. Our country today is one of the hungriest in the world.”

Obi further criticised the Federal Government’s economic management, alleging that more loans had been accumulated after the removal of fuel subsidy than by previous administrations combined.

According to him, Nigeria’s challenges cut across ethnic and religious divides, stressing the need for collective action.

“It is no longer time we can talk about tribe; no tribe buys bread cheaper; it is not a time for religion; no religion buys bread cheaper. They are all suffering,” he said.

Obi maintained that Nigeria’s problems stem from poor leadership rather than lack of resources, expressing optimism that a new political direction could change the country’s trajectory.

“This country is not poor; it is being badly led,” Obi said, reiterating that the African Democratic Congress was committed to providing solutions to the nation’s challenges.

“We want to do the right thing for the country; the country has suffered enough,” he added.

Also speaking at the event, the Deputy National Chairman of the ADC for the South-South zone, Senator Andrew Uchendu, said Nigeria had failed in virtually all sectors, stressing the need for urgent reforms and responsible leadership to address the country’s socio-economic and security challenges.