FG plotting to stop my presidential bid, says Obi

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has alleged that the Federal Government was plotting to prevent him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

Obi made the allegation while speaking on Friday at a leadership programme organised by the NextGen Mentorship and Leadership Initiative at Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State.

According to him, powerful interests within the government were determined to ensure that he did not appear on the ballot in the next presidential election.

“If you know what they are doing to ensure that I’m not on the ballot in 2027, you will be surprised.

“The Nigerian government is doing everything to ensure that I do not contest in this election, but I’m not looking at the obstacles but at the destination.

“I’m rather focused on the fruitfulness of the destination and that is what keeps me going,” he said.

Despite the alleged attempts to frustrate his ambition, Obi maintained that he remained committed to the democratic process and was confident that the will of Nigerians would ultimately prevail.

Obi who was reacting to the Friday judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which set aside an earlier ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to register the NDC as a political party, said the decision would not derail his political aspirations.

“They cannot stop me. They will fail. Let me assure you, it is not the end of the road. We are committed to this democracy, and those who want to kill this democracy are trying to hurt the society.

“The reactionary elements in Nigeria, those who are bent on holding Nigeria down, do not want it to work, but I can assure you it would work. I have confidence that I will pull through because the will of the people must prevail,” he said.

The former governor also challenged President Bola Tinubu and other presidential hopefuls to a public debate on their plans for the country.

Obi said his interest in the presidency was driven by a desire to rebuild the country rather than personal ambition.

“I challenge any of those contesting to a debate to say what they want to do for this country, including President Bola Tinubu. I’m not saying it to make you happy but to change Nigeria and make it work.

“I’m not desperate to be President but desperate to see Nigeria work. Go and obtain your PVC. If you don’t vote, you are hurting your future. When you have your PVC, do not vote for me because I’m an Igbo man. Vote for me because I’m the most qualified,” he said.

Obi also said he envisioned a country where opportunities would be available to every citizen regardless of ethnic or religious background.

“It is not about Igbo people, but I want a Nigeria where the child of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody. We want a country that will work. The greatest beneficiaries of my presidency will be the North,” he said.

However, the All Progressives Congress rejected Obi’s claim, warning him against disparaging institutions responsible for upholding democracy.

The National Secretary of the APC, Ajibola Basiru, urged the former Anambra State governor to pursue his grievances through the courts rather than criticise the judiciary.

Basiru said, “He cannot be seeking to rule Nigeria and be undermining one of the key institutions of democracy. The judiciary is one of the institutions of democracy and must be respected, whether the judgment is in your favour or against you.

“Is it not the same judiciary that said the NDC should be registered even when INEC said the NDC had not met the requirements? Now, the same judiciary has said all necessary parties should be heard before making the order in the first instance.

“In law, everybody knows that a court that made an order can set it aside when necessary parties have not been heard. So, if the same court that granted the order has now set it aside, why bring the President into this? He should go and settle his case in court rather than drag the President into it.”