2027: Put national unity first but protect your votes, Obi charges supporters

By Myke Uzendu

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to prioritise national unity in the 2027 presidential election and vote for a candidate capable of bringing the country together.

Obi said a divided nation could not achieve meaningful development, stressing the need for leadership that would bridge Nigeria’s ethnic, religious and regional divides.

The former Anambra State governor made the call on Sunday during a global digital town hall streamed through Zoom, YouTube and other social media platforms, where he addressed Nigerians at home and abroad on voter mobilisation, election security and strategies for protecting the electoral process.

Obi said Nigerians who wanted to elect their preferred candidate must take responsibility for protecting their votes by remaining at polling units until the ballots were counted.

“Our country needs unity. At present, we are not united. We are divided along ethnic and religious lines,” Obi said.

According to him, the economic and security challenges facing Nigerians cut across ethnic and religious boundaries.

“To the best of my knowledge, no tribe buys bread at a lower price, and no tribe buys fuel at a lower price. Similarly, no religion buys bread or fuel at a lower price,” he said.

“The poverty affecting our country today is widespread across the entire nation. No tribe enjoys greater security than another. Insecurity affects every part of the country.”

Obi said Nigeria needed a president who could unite citizens and work consistently to improve national security.

He urged his supporters to intensify voter mobilisation and expand the deployment of polling agents across the country, saying citizens must remain engaged throughout the electoral process.

The NDC candidate said his campaign was focused on building a nationwide network of polling agents and working with other political parties and stakeholders to promote free, fair and credible elections.

He also warned voters against allowing money or intimidation to influence their choices during the election.

“If you accept money from them, that is money they would otherwise have spent on security, hospitals, and education,” Obi said.

He maintained that citizens must understand the long-term consequences of selling their votes, urging them to protect their electoral choices and insist that every ballot be counted.

On insecurity, Obi called for improved funding, logistics and welfare for security personnel, saying security agencies must be adequately equipped to protect Nigerians.

“We have security agencies, and they must function effectively. We must provide them with the logistics they need to perform their duties and ensure that we stand by them,” he said.

He added that the welfare of security personnel and their families must also receive attention.

“We must make certain that they are properly equipped and that their families are cared for if anything happens to them or they become unavailable. We need a president who will lead from the front,” Obi said.

On election day, Obi urged voters not to leave polling units immediately after casting their ballots.

He advised citizens to remain at their polling units until votes had been counted, stressing that active citizen participation was necessary to safeguard the electoral process.

The former governor said Nigerians should remain vigilant and ensure that their votes were not only cast but properly counted and recorded.

The Digital Global Town Hall forms part of Obi’s mobilisation activities ahead of the 2027 general election, with voter mobilisation, grassroots participation and protection of votes featuring prominently in the engagement.

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