Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has described Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, as qualified to become Nigeria’s president.
Obi said the country needed a leader committed to unity, inclusion and addressing the challenges confronting Nigerians.
He spoke while attending the commissioning of the presidential campaign office of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
According to Obi, the political initiative was not driven by desperation but by a desire to give Nigerians the opportunity to freely choose their preferred candidate in the 2027 election.
“A Nigeria of unity and inclusion. We have a candidate who is contesting the presidency today: my dear brother Seyi Makinde. Is he qualified to be president? Yes,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor said his presence at the event demonstrated that those involved were committed to a broader political objective rather than personal ambition.
He said whoever emerges through a free, fair and credible election should receive the support of Nigerians to rebuild the country.
“For us, we don’t have desperation. We want the people of Nigeria to make their choice. Whoever they choose, all of us will come together to build a new Nigeria,” Obi said.
He expressed concern over the economic and security situation in the country, saying Nigerians were facing hunger, poverty and insecurity.
“We can’t all continue the way we are going today. Our people are hungry. Our people are poor. Our people are insecure,” he said.
Obi called for a change in the nature of political competition in Nigeria, arguing that political parties and candidates should focus on finding solutions to the problems confronting citizens rather than engaging in unnecessary disagreements.
“We don’t want politics of quarrel, politics of disagreement. Let our quarrel be to feed our people. Let our quarrel be to pull our people out of poverty,” he said.
He also advocated for a Nigeria where citizens can succeed regardless of their background or connections.
“We want a Nigeria where a child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody, that’s what we want,” Obi added.
He assured supporters that the political actors involved would remain united in their efforts to transform the country.
“I assure you that we remain united in our rescue for our dear country, Nigeria,” he said.
The event attracted prominent political figures, including leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki faction.
Those in attendance included Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu; and APM vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Daura, among others.
Speaking at the event, Bala Mohammed, who is also the National Leader of the APM, said Makinde had demonstrated his capacity to use limited public resources to develop Oyo State.
He argued that the governor could replicate such performance at the national level if elected president.
Mohammed also warned political actors against underestimating the APM ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The beauty of having a good party is to have a good leader,” he said.
He described the commissioning of the campaign office as evidence of the party’s seriousness about the presidential contest.
“This office is solely provided by the presidential candidate to show you that we mean business. Whoever disregards us is doing it at his own peril,” Mohammed said.
