The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Party, Peter Obi, has officially kicked off his campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election, challenging other candidates wishing to lead Nigeria in the 2027 election to come before the electorate, defend their records and answer questions about their capacity to govern the country.
Obi, who spoke at a press conference at his residence in Onitsha on Friday to mark the commencement of the 2027 presidential and National Assembly campaigns, said no presidential candidate should hide behind “the high walls of power or rely on proxies and surrogates” during the campaign.
He pointed out that Nigerians deserve to hear directly from those seeking their mandate and subject their records, credentials and policy proposals to public scrutiny.
He said, “No candidate should hide behind the high walls of power, send proxies or surrogates to the hustings, and expect Nigerians to entrust them with the leadership of the country.
“Every candidate seeking the presidency must have the courage to come before the people, answer their questions, defend their records, and subject their vision to public scrutiny.
“Leadership Requires Presence and Empathy. Genuine leadership required physical presence and empathy, a presidential candidate would not effectively lead communities without understanding their circumstances.
“True leadership requires presence and empathy. No one can lead from the front without standing with communities across Nigeria devastated by banditry, criminality, terrorism, and flooding.
“Every candidate seeking the presidency must have the courage to come before the people, answer their questions, defend their records, and subject their vision to public scrutiny.
“Leadership Requires Presence and Empathy. Genuine leadership required physical presence and empathy, a presidential candidate would not effectively lead communities without understanding their circumstances.
“True leadership requires presence and empathy. No one can lead from the front without standing with communities across Nigeria devastated by banditry, criminality, terrorism, and flooding.
“You cannot truly lead people you are unwilling to visit, listen to, and understand.”
The former Anambra State governor, who is seeking the presidency alongside his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, said he and his running mate would personally take their campaign to Nigerians across the country.
He assured the people that he and his running mate were committed to listening to them, understanding their concerns and engaging them openly, adding that they would not delegate their duty to proxies.