Peter Obi says the biggest question ahead of 2027 is not who wins—it is whether Nigerians’ votes will be protected.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and the party’s Kogi East senatorial candidate, High Chief Peter Ameh, have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deliver free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2027.
The politicians spoke in Ogugu, Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, during a thank-you tour organised for Ameh after he emerged as the NDC’s candidate for Kogi East.
Obi received a large crowd of supporters during the visit and used the occasion to call for an election campaign centred on issues rather than political theatrics.
Obi: Let Nigerians judge the candidates
Obi challenged presidential candidates to spend more time engaging directly with Nigerians about the problems they face.
Rather than simply asking voters to support them, he said politicians should travel across the country, listen to communities and develop practical responses to their concerns.
He said his own approach was to engage ordinary Nigerians wherever he travelled, citing a stop at Ugbolafo, Otukpa Junction, where he spoke with elderly residents about their difficulties.
For Obi, the priorities of the next government should be clear:
- Getting Nigerian children into quality schools
- Protecting the environment
- Creating conditions for decent livelihoods
- Addressing poverty and hunger
- Improving conditions in rural communities
“We want to change the dynamics,” Obi said, arguing that political campaigns should begin with understanding the problems confronting citizens rather than merely seeking their votes.
“Our votes must count”
Speaking with journalists, Obi said he was less concerned about predicting the eventual winner of the 2027 election than about ensuring that voters could freely exercise their democratic rights.
His primary concern, he said, was how Nigerians would protect their votes on election day.
He called on voters to insist that ballots be properly cast, counted and respected.
“The votes of the people must be counted,” Obi said, linking the issue to the hunger and poverty he said were affecting Nigerians.
He also urged citizens to evaluate candidates according to what he described as five key qualities: competence, capacity, character, compassion and commitment.
Obi highlights rural hardship
The former Anambra State governor also expressed concern about living conditions in rural parts of Kogi State.
He pointed to the region’s large agricultural areas and questioned why farmers were not receiving sufficient support to increase food production.
Obi argued that Nigeria possesses substantial resources but has struggled to convert them into improved living standards.
His message was that reversing the country’s current trajectory would require leadership with a clear vision and the ability to turn that vision into results.
Ameh: Kogi East has resources but lacks development
Ameh echoed Obi’s concerns, arguing that Kogi East’s natural wealth should have translated into better infrastructure and living conditions.
He pointed to the coal deposits in Ankpa and complained about poor road infrastructure, including limited access to Enjema.
According to Ameh, the region’s economic potential is being undermined by inadequate infrastructure despite significant commercial activity around its coal resources.
“Kogi East is really blessed. We should not have decayed infrastructure,” he said.
Ameh argued that elected representatives must do more than occupy positions in government. They should use their legislative platforms to bring neglected community problems to national attention.
Primary healthcare becomes another campaign issue
The NDC candidate also criticised the condition of primary healthcare facilities across Kogi State.
He described the situation as unacceptable and urged voters to examine candidates’ records before deciding whom to support.
For Ameh, the 2027 election should be about replacing ineffective representation with politicians who have demonstrated the ability to deliver results.
“The people must come first,” he said, presenting public interest as the foundation of his campaign.
Ameh urges voters to protect their ballots
Ameh also alleged that previous votes cast by residents had not always translated into the outcomes voters expected.
He therefore called on citizens to remain vigilant during the 2027 election and ensure their ballots are properly protected throughout the electoral process.
He linked credible representation to practical improvements in everyday life, including better roads, functioning schools, healthcare and basic amenities.
Ameh further called for renewed investment in public schools and health institutions, arguing that communities need representatives with proven experience and demonstrated leadership capacity.
The bigger issue heading into 2027
The message from Ogugu was ultimately broader than a single senatorial contest.
For Obi and Ameh, the 2027 election should test two things at once: the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process and the quality of the leadership Nigerians choose.
Their appeal to voters was simple—protect the ballot, scrutinise the candidates and make competence and performance central to the decision.
The unanswered question is whether those demands will translate into a broader national campaign focused on the everyday realities of Nigerians rather than the usual political promises.
