A divided country requires a unifying leader — Obi tells Nigerians

By Jude Opara

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has charged Nigerians to place a premium on the country’s unity and vote for a candidate capable of unifying the nation.

He said a nation with so much division could not achieve substantial developmental progress, hence the need to elect a leader who could unite the people.

Obi further said that citizens who wished to elect their preferred leader must be ready to protect their votes by staying at polling units until the ballots were counted during the 2027 presidential election.

The NDC presidential candidate spoke at a global digital town hall streamed via Zoom, YouTube and other social media platforms, where he addressed Nigerians at home and abroad on voter mobilisation, election security and measures to safeguard the electoral process.

He also urged his supporters to mobilise voters and ensure that polling agents were deployed throughout the country.

“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. No tribe enjoys greater security than another. Insecurity affects every part of the country. This is the same point I have consistently made,” he said.

He said the country needed a president capable of bringing Nigerians together and working relentlessly to ensure national security.

The former Anambra State governor stated that Nigerians must remain engaged and demand that every vote be counted.

The presidential hopeful said his campaign was focused on expanding its network of polling agents and working with other political parties to support free, fair and credible elections.

He also warned Nigerians not to allow money or intimidation to determine their electoral decisions, maintaining that either could jeopardise their future.

“If you accept money from them, that is money they would otherwise have spent on security, hospitals and education,” he said.

The opposition leader further called for stronger measures to address insecurity, adding that security agencies must receive the logistics and support they require to protect the country.

“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. We must make certain that they are properly equipped and that their families are cared for if anything happens to them or they become unavailable. We need a president who will lead from the front,” he said.

The digital global town hall is part of Obi’s mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 election, with a focus on protecting votes and encouraging grassroots participation.