•Peter Obi
Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, yesterday underwent screening by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the party’s 2027 presidential primaries, declaring that his focus remains on rebuilding Nigeria rather than speculating about potential rivals.
Obi was screened at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja by a committee headed by former Ebonyi State Governor, Sam Egwu, reports The Nation.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate arrived shortly after members of the screening panel took their seats for the exercise, which lasted more than two hours.
Speaking with journalists after the screening, Obi dismissed reports suggesting that he had already emerged as the NDC’s consensus presidential candidate, insisting that the process remained open and democratic.
“How can it be based on consensus? The party opened up the expression of interest forms for people to buy. I bought the form. As the party said, I’m the only one who expressed interest. That’s it,” he said.
Obi commended the NDC leadership for what he described as a transparent and credible screening exercise, saying the party was demonstrating commitment to democratic ideals.
“At NDC, we are choosing to do things properly. When we say there is going to be a screening, there is going to be a screening. That is democracy in action,” he stated.
Reacting to speculations that former President, Goodluck Jonathan, may join the presidential race, Obi said he was not preoccupied with who else might contest the election.
“Democracy is about people offering themselves for service and being voted for. I’m not in any way going around looking for who is contesting. I’m concentrating on how to build a better Nigeria,” he said.
Obi said his vision for the 2027 election was anchored on building a secure, united and prosperous country through inclusive governance and strict adherence to the constitutional principle of federal character.
According to him, Nigeria must become safe enough for citizens to move freely without fear, while insecurity threatening families and schoolchildren must be decisively tackled.
“We want to see a country where mothers no longer fear when their children go to school. We want Nigerians to travel all over the country without fear,” he added.
The former governor also stressed the need to address hunger, poverty and corruption, arguing that public resources must be used for the benefit of ordinary Nigerians rather than a privileged elite.
“So many Nigerians go to bed not knowing where the next meal will come from. That must change. We must stop turning public assets into private wealth,” Obi said.
