Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has faulted Nigeria’s political system, arguing that the country’s political parties are driven more by personal ambition than by clearly defined principles or ideologies.
Obi spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, July 26, 2026, where he also alleged that political figures facing corruption allegations could appear to escape the stigma attached to such accusations after joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former Anambra State governor said the absence of strong ideological distinctions among political parties had weakened the country’s political system.
He argued that Nigeria needed leaders who combined competence with integrity, commitment and compassion, rather than politicians who moved between parties in search of personal or political advantage.
Obi further alleged that the difficulties confronting some opposition parties reflected a deliberate attempt to weaken alternative political platforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He pointed to developments within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the NDC and the Labour Party (LP), alleging that the recurring crises in opposition parties were part of a wider pattern.
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Obi also accused the government of undermining the judiciary, saying, “When opposition parties are having problems, that is his wish. Because of it, they are destroying the judiciary.”
The NDC candidate said he would guarantee the independence and free operation of opposition parties if elected president in 2027, insisting that government and regulatory agencies should not be used to interfere in their activities.
He also rejected the argument that the backing of state governors would automatically secure victory for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
According to Obi, the position of a governor does not necessarily reflect the political preference of the electorate in the state.
He said the fact that governors support a presidential candidate does not mean that the people they govern would vote in the same direction.
Obi’s remarks come as political parties and opposition groups continue to reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 elections, amid fresh alignments and attempts to build a stronger challenge to the ruling APC.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate’s latest comments have again placed party ideology, political defections, opposition unity and the influence of incumbency at the centre of the debate over Nigeria’s next presidential contest.