Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has formally kicked off his campaign for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections, marking the official start of the campaign season on August 19, 2026, with an address to Nigerians and the press.
Obi called the moment a defining test for Nigerian democracy, giving citizens a chance to weigh the records and plans of those seeking their mandate at a time of what he described as grave global uncertainty, entering the race with the conviction that Nigeria can and must work.
He pointed to sobering figures to frame the stakes, citing IMF data showing 63 per cent, over 140 million Nigerians, living at or below the poverty line, alongside estimates that 35 million people will need food assistance during the 2026 lean season and 3.6 million Nigerians remaining internally displaced due to conflict.
Drawing on his private sector background and his record as Anambra Governor, Obi said leadership must be measured by outcomes, not intentions, describing his running mate Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s focus on education and human capital development as a complementary governing experience despite their different backgrounds.
He framed the campaign around a simple test for voters, whether Nigerians are better off than four years ago, whether businesses can produce and expand, and whether young people and farmers can find productive opportunity.
Obi said fixing Nigeria requires more than reactive reforms, calling for disciplined management of public resources and sustained investment in the country’s people as the foundation for economic recovery.
By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed
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