Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has dismissed growing endorsements of President Bola Tinubu by state governors, saying political officeholders do not determine election outcomes.
Obi, former governor of Anambra State, also said he would promote dialogue with agitators across the country if elected president, stressing that grievances should be addressed through inclusion, justice, and economic reforms rather than force.
Speaking in an interview with NoireTV, Obi said his performance in the 2023 presidential election showed that governors are not decisive in determining electoral victory.
“It doesn’t matter whether 36 governors are with the president. I didn’t have one governor in the last election, and I won 12 states,” he said.
He argued that endorsements by governors would have little impact on the 2027 elections, adding that the focus should be on improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Obi also reiterated his claim that he was denied victories in two states in the 2023 election, although the results were upheld by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and affirmed by the Supreme Court.
He said the next election should be centred on issues affecting citizens, including poverty, education, and healthcare.
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“What is important is how to make Nigeria work for the poor. Nigerians are hungry today,” he said.
In a separate engagement in Washington, D.C., Obi said he would prioritise dialogue with agitators as part of efforts to promote national unity.
A statement by the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), signed by spokesman Ibrahim Umar, said he would engage aggrieved groups and seek reconciliation.
It added that many agitations in the country are driven by poverty, unemployment, and perceived injustice, and should be addressed through inclusive governance rather than force.
The statement noted that Obi’s approach is aimed at strengthening unity and restoring public trust in democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 elections.