Actress Esther Okereke nominated as NRM presidential candidate for 2027

Actress Esther Okereke has emerged as the presidential candidate for the National Rescue Movement (NRM) ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general election. She secured the party's ticket after defeating rivals Joseph Faduri and Ademola Onigbokun at the party's presidential primary in Abuja. Okereke's nomination positions her as a notable opposition figure challenging incumbent President Bola Tinubu. Her candidacy marks a significant moment, placing her among the few women to secure a presidential ticket in Nigeria's democratic history. The NRM aims to provide leadership capable of addressing the nation's pressing economic and security challenges. Party Chairman Chinedu Obi emphasized the party's focus on "national rescue efforts" amid widespread insecurity and economic hardship, referencing citizens held captive and families displaced by conflict. Okereke accepted her nomination as a "sacred assignment" and a call to national service, expressing her belief that "Nigeria shall rise and work again." She painted a stark picture of the country's socio-economic conditions, citing poverty, unemployment, and insecurity. "Our nation is bleeding. Millions of our people are trapped in pain, poverty, fear and uncertainty," Okereke stated, highlighting issues like families living in darkness despite energy resources and graduates facing unemployment. She acknowledged Nigeria's "systemic failure" but expressed hope for a "greater Nigerian future." Her candidacy adds to the growing list of aspirants preparing for what is anticipated to be a highly competitive 2027 presidential election.

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For years, global reports repeatedly described Nigeria as the poverty capital of the world, a title no nation should wear with comfort and no leadership should accept with resignation.