Former Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi has confirmed he will contest the 2027 presidential election, pledging to serve only one term if elected and promising to restore national stability within two years.

Obi addressed supporters during a live X Space interaction on Sunday where he also dismissed reports suggesting a joint ticket with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

According to a statement on Monday by Ibrahim Umar, spokesperson for the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), Obi said: “If the coalition is not about stopping the killings in Benue and Zamfara, how to revive our economy, how to make our industries productive, how to put food on the tables of Nigerians… Count me out. Nigeria is currently at war. We need to do something about it.”

He urged citizens to unite for national transformation, “I will bring stability in Nigeria within two years in office. Leaders of Nigeria should sit down in Nigeria and fix Nigeria.”

Obi also reaffirmed commitment to zoning principles, “I believe in the rotation of government between North and South. I implemented it in Anambra as a governor.”

Commenting on the leadership crisis in the Labour Party, Obi stated that efforts were ongoing to secure the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recognition of the Nenadi Usman-led faction in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling.

On President Bola Tinubu’s international travels, Obi criticize8d the president’s priorities. “In two years, Tinubu has not spent one night in any state in Nigeria apart from Lagos, yet he is going to spend eight nights in St. Lucia, a place smaller than Ajegunle,” Obi remarked. “St. Lucia is about the size of the 10th largest city of Nigeria, Ilorin.”

Looking ahead to 2027, Obi said: “We will do things differently in 2027. We will follow a non-violent approach and insist that the right thing will be done before the result announcement in Abuja. Our votes in 2027 will count, and we will ensure they count.”

He outlined his first 100-day priorities, including security, education, poverty eradication, cost-cutting, and anti-corruption. “My family will not be involved in corruption. Funds [will] be channelled into key critical sectors,” he promised.

Obi also pledged to uphold democratic integrity, “My presidency will ensure there is a strong opposition in party politics. There will be no defection of elected officials to other parties when I am in charge.”

Critiquing the current state of governance, he added, “Imagine in this country, people are dying in Benue, Borno, and our leaders are commissioning bus stops and holidaying.”

He concluded with a reminder of his track record: “My past speaks loudly for me. Wherever there was an issue in Anambra State, I was there physically. Anybody who wants to serve should be ready to put even their life on the line for the lives of Nigerians.”

“Nobody abroad takes you seriously if you don’t have a stable government,” Obi said.