By Our Reporter
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to prioritise national unity and elect a leader capable of bridging the country’s ethnic, religious and political divisions.
Obi made the call during a global digital town hall on Sunday evening, where he addressed Nigerians at home and abroad on voter mobilisation, election security and the need to safeguard the electoral process ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The former Anambra State governor argued that Nigeria could not achieve meaningful development while its citizens remained divided along ethnic and religious lines.
“Our country needs unity. At present, we are not united. We are divided along ethnic and religious lines, yet, to the best of my knowledge, no tribe buys bread at a lower price, and no tribe buys fuel at a lower price.
“Similarly, no religion buys bread or fuel at a lower price. The poverty affecting our country today is widespread across the entire nation,” Obi said.
He added that insecurity also affected Nigerians across ethnic and religious boundaries, stressing that no section of the country was immune from the challenges confronting the nation.
According to him, Nigeria requires a president who can unite its citizens and provide decisive leadership in tackling insecurity and other national challenges.
Obi also urged Nigerians who intend to vote in the 2027 election to take responsibility for protecting their votes by remaining at polling units until the ballots are counted.
He said citizens must not only cast their ballots but also remain actively engaged throughout the voting and counting process to ensure that their votes are properly accounted for.
The NDC candidate further directed his supporters to intensify voter mobilisation and ensure that polling agents are deployed across the country.
He said his campaign was expanding its network of polling agents and was willing to work with other political parties and stakeholders to promote free, fair and credible elections.
Obi also warned voters against allowing financial inducement or intimidation to influence their electoral choices.
“If you accept money from them, that is money they would otherwise have spent on security, hospitals, and education,” he said.
On insecurity, the former governor called for better support and equipment for security agencies, arguing that the personnel responsible for protecting Nigerians must be given the necessary logistics to perform their duties effectively.
“We have security agencies, and they must function effectively. We must provide them with the logistics they need to perform their duties and ensure that we stand by them,” he said.
Obi also called for the welfare of security personnel and their families to be prioritised, particularly when officers are killed, injured or otherwise unable to continue serving.
“We need a president who will lead from the front,” he added.
The NDC flagbearer maintained that Nigerians must remain vigilant throughout the electoral process and insist that every legitimate vote be counted.
The global digital town hall, which was streamed via Zoom, YouTube and other social media platforms, formed part of Obi’s mobilisation activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The engagement focused on grassroots mobilisation, election security and strategies for protecting votes, with Obi urging Nigerians at home and abroad to play an active role in ensuring credible elections.
The statement was signed by Idris Zekeri Jnr, spokesman of the Peter Obi Media Relations team (POMR), and dated October 5, 2026.