2027: Ezekwesili reaffirms support for Obi

Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has reaffirmed her backing for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, ahead of the 2027 elections. Ezekwesili, a prominent figure known for her roles as a former vice president for the World Bank's Africa region and co-founder of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, also called for a fundamental shift in Nigeria's governance.

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In 2023, I made it very clear that, using the criteria on which I see leadership either fail or succeed to govern well… the other two candidates score considerably lower than what you would assign to former Governor Obi, and so I was going to stand with Governor Obi. I don’t think that anything has really significantly changed.

Speaking on Arise TV's 'Prime Time' show, Ezekwesili stated that her criteria for evaluating leadership remain the same as in the 2023 election. She believes that Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, still ranks highest based on these standards. "I don't think that anything has really significantly changed," she remarked, indicating her continued confidence in Obi's potential.

However, Ezekwesili cautioned against centering the national discourse solely on Peter Obi or any single candidate. She stressed the importance of focusing on the broader issues of national governance, human dignity, and the systemic failures that have hindered the improvement of citizens' lives. "Don't make this about Peter Obi. I don't want us to personalise. I'm interested in the construct," she urged.

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Don’t make this about Peter Obi. I don’t want us to personalise. I’m interested in the construct.

Ezekwesili expressed deep concern over the diminished value placed on human life in Nigeria, describing the current situation as a "complete collapse of the dignity of the human being and the dignity of life." She challenged the prevailing narrative that simply holding elections will suffice, asserting that the current political "design" is flawed and needs radical rethinking. "This design needs to be challenged. The design that we run right now has not worked for us; we do need to design again," she declared.

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What we have to show for it is the complete collapse of the dignity of the human being and the dignity of life. It’s like we have zeroed out on the value of life, and yet we continue to think that somehow, if we just keep doing elections, we’ll be fine.

She implored capable Nigerians to step forward and contest political offices at all levels, encouraging citizens to "vote for yourselves" if leaders do not represent their aspirations. Ezekwesili concluded by rejecting the notion that Nigeria's current state is an unchangeable destiny, framing it instead as a consequence of deliberate choices and a flawed system that requires fundamental redesign.

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I am challenging that and saying that Nigerians should at least vote for themselves. If no one votes for you in terms of the leaders you’re choosing, vote for yourselves.