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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

FG plotting to stop my presidential bid, says Obi

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi alleges the Federal Government is plotting to prevent him from contesting the 2027 election.
  • Obi stated this while reacting to a court ruling that set aside the registration of his party, asserting that obstacles would not derail his aspirations.
  • He challenged President Bola Tinubu to a public debate on national plans and emphasized his desire to rebuild Nigeria for all citizens.

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has accused the Federal Government of actively working to disqualify him from the 2027 presidential election. Obi made these allegations during a leadership program at Madonna University in Okija, Anambra State, on Friday.

If you know what they are doing to ensure that I’m not on the ballot in 2027, you will be surprised.

— Peter ObiAlleging government plots to prevent his 2027 presidential bid.

He claimed that powerful individuals within the government are determined to keep him off the ballot. "If you know what they are doing to ensure that I’m not on the ballot in 2027, you will be surprised," Obi stated. He added, "The Nigerian government is doing everything to ensure that I do not contest in this election, but I’m not looking at the obstacles but at the destination."

The Nigerian government is doing everything to ensure that I do not contest in this election, but I’m not looking at the obstacles but at the destination.

— Peter ObiExpressing focus on his goals despite alleged government interference.

Obi's remarks followed a Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja, Kogi State, that nullified a previous order for the Independent National Electoral Commission to register the NDC. Despite this legal setback, Obi expressed confidence that it would not halt his political ambitions. "They cannot stop me. They will fail. Let me assure you, it is not the end of the road," he declared.

They cannot stop me. They will fail. Let me assure you, it is not the end of the road.

— Peter ObiReacting to a court ruling that set aside the registration of his party.

Challenging President Bola Tinubu and other potential candidates, Obi called for a public debate on their visions for Nigeria. He asserted that his pursuit of the presidency stems from a desire to reform the nation, not personal gain. "I’m not desperate to be President but desperate to see Nigeria work," he said, urging citizens to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and vote for competence, not ethnicity. He envisioned a Nigeria where merit, not connections, determines success, stating, "I want a Nigeria where the child of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody."

I challenge any of those contesting to a debate to say what they want to do for this country, including President Bola Tinubu.

— Peter ObiIssuing a challenge for a public debate on national plans.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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