Peter Obi pledges 10,000 megawatts and attacks Tinubu’s borrowing ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 vote

Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate for the 2027 presidential election, has presented electricity, security and public accountability as central priorities while challenging President Bola Tinubu over borrowing and engagement with voters. Obi spoke at an NDC town hall meeting in Enugu and at a political meeting in Abakaliki, according to Premium Times and Channels Television. Obi pledged that an administration led by him would generate, transmit and distribute at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity.

He said reliable power was necessary to revive industry, create jobs and stimulate economic activity. Premium Times reported that Nigeria’s total available electricity generation was approximately 5,403.3 megawatts in September 2026, citing data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s National Control Centre. The former Anambra governor also promised decisive action against insecurity and said Nigeria should declare emergencies in areas including education and corruption.

Channels Television reported that his wider list included security, hunger, education, healthcare, corruption, power and national unity. Obi said primary healthcare should be available in every political ward and pledged to reduce the number of children out of school. He said Nigeria’s agricultural land could help address hunger if farmers were able to return safely to their farms.

He also promised to equip security agencies to protect citizens and to fight corruption, saying people who embezzled public funds would go to jail, beginning with the president. Accountability for borrowing was a major part of his criticism of Tinubu. Premium Times reported that the president had asked the National Assembly to approve the processing of external loans worth $20,517,755,901 and €1,045,083,643 under a 2026–2027 supplementary borrowing plan.

Obi challenged Tinubu to travel across the country and explain what his administration had achieved since 2023, including how borrowed funds had been used. He called for the president to spend at least 36 days visiting Nigeria’s states. Channels Television reported that Obi linked this demand to Tinubu’s statement that the demands of governing might prevent him from campaigning in all 36 states.

Channels Television also reported Obi’s claim that Tinubu had spent more than 260 days outside Nigeria since taking office. Obi said the president lacked the energy and competence to run the country and urged him to step aside. Those remarks were presented as Obi’s political criticism; the reports did not include a response from Tinubu.

Obi said his campaign should not be supported on regional or ethnic grounds. Addressing voters in the South East, he urged them to choose him for what he described as qualification and capacity rather than because he is Igbo. He also promised to apply the Federal Character principle transparently in public appointments.

At the Enugu town hall, political economist Pat Utomi urged Nigerians to seek a change in leadership and expressed support for an Obi-Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket. Premium Times said Utomi blamed corruption, criminality and disunity for undermining Nigeria’s development aspirations.