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NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s control of his administration, saying there are times he believes the President is not in charge and challenging him to personally address Nigerians instead of allowing aides and associates to speak on his behalf.
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Obi says his team will establish an independent result-transmission network covering polling units nationwide in 2027, allowing his situation room to receive results simultaneously with INEC’s official system and making it possible to detect figures that do not originate from the polling units.
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The former Anambra State governor promises to overhaul Nigeria’s security architecture from his first week in office if elected, including appointing capable security chiefs, deploying drones and satellite technology, supporting state police and refusing to negotiate with kidnappers or pay ransom.
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Obi also promises to tackle the high cost of petrol by removing corruption from the subsidy system, pledges to address poverty, healthcare and skills development in the North, and says Nigerians would see a significant difference within four years of his presidency.
September 10 (THEWILL) – The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has launched a fresh broadside against President Bola Tinubu, questioning his control of the administration while unveiling an aggressive electoral-monitoring strategy for the 2027 general elections.
Obi, who spoke in an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, said he sometimes believed that President Tinubu was not fully in charge of his government and challenged the President to personally speak to Nigerians on major issues confronting the country.
The former Anambra State governor also disclosed that his campaign would establish an independent result-transmission system at polling units across Nigeria in 2027, allowing his team to receive results directly into its own situation room as votes are counted.
The arrangement, according to Obi, would operate alongside the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) official result-transmission system.
He said the purpose was to create an independent record of what happened at every polling unit and prevent a situation where results eventually announced at collation centres could not be traced to the figures recorded by voters and electoral officials at the point of voting.
Obi said the proposed system would not amount to establishing a parallel electoral commission or taking over INEC’s constitutional responsibility.
“We must make sure that at every polling unit, the votes are counted, the votes are recorded properly, the votes are transmitted properly. And we will have even a dual transmission so that as it’s going to the proper designated INEC portal, it’s also being transmitted where the people can see it”, he said.
Asked whether his plan to deploy more systems similar to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal, IReV, amounted to creating a parallel result-transmission system, Obi disagreed.
“All we are saying is that this time around, we will make sure that in every polling unit, we must have a system that transmits to our own situation room the correct results”, he stated.
He said other organisations could also establish similar systems to independently monitor the election, insisting that the objective was to ensure that only results generated at polling units formed the basis for the final declaration.
“And I’m sure there are so many other agencies that intend to do the same thing. So we’re not going to have a situation where somebody pronounces something that didn’t emanate from the polling unit. Our task is to make sure that the right things are done”, Obi noted.
He expressed confidence that a transparent election was possible, citing Ghana and other countries as examples of electoral systems where results could be properly tracked and verified.
‘Sometimes I Believe Tinubu Is Not In Charge’
The NDC candidate subsequently turned his attention to the Tinubu administration, questioning the extent to which the President personally controls the affairs of government.
“Sometimes I believe Tinubu is not in charge. All these things that his people are talking, he should be the one talking. Nobody will talk for Peter Obi. I will talk to my people”, he added.
Obi said the President should personally explain his administration’s policies and decisions to Nigerians rather than leaving such explanations to aides, associates and other officials.
He also criticised what he described as the President’s frequent foreign trips, arguing that Tinubu should spend more time in communities affected by insecurity.
The former governor specifically mentioned Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau and Kano, saying the President should personally visit the affected states and spend time assessing the security situation.
“He should spend three days in these states”, Obi said.
His criticism comes as insecurity remains a central political issue ahead of the 2027 election, with the opposition expected to make the government’s handling of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and attacks on farming communities a major campaign issue.
Security Overhaul From First Week, No Ransom
Obi said security would be his administration’s immediate priority if elected, arguing that insecurity has become the greatest obstacle to economic activity and normal life in Nigeria.
“Security is the most important thing for Nigerians. It has made it impossible for manufacturers to move their goods. Insecurity has made it impossible for farmers to go to farm”, he said.
The NDC candidate promised to begin restructuring the country’s security architecture from his first week in office.
“My first week, I will appoint capable security chiefs. Even if I am going to retain those that are there, they will know that a new Commander-in-Chief has arrived”, he vowed.
Obi said his administration would deploy technology on a much larger scale, including drones and satellite surveillance, to improve intelligence gathering, monitor difficult terrain and respond more quickly to security threats.
He also expressed support for state police, arguing that the country requires a security architecture capable of responding to threats at the local level.
“I will do whatever it takes to secure the country. I believe in state police. I will not pay ransom”, he declared.
Obi further criticised the alleged deployment of government resources against political opponents, arguing that such resources should instead be concentrated on combating insecurity. He said he would not remain in Abuja while Nigerians were being killed or kidnapped in other parts of the country.
Obi’s declaration that he would not pay ransom represents one of the clearest positions he has taken on the kidnapping crisis. He argued that ransom payments encourage the criminal economy by providing financial incentives for kidnappers and other armed groups.
His proposed response combines stronger security leadership with technology, intelligence gathering and decentralised policing.
The former governor said the ultimate objective would be to restore the confidence of farmers, manufacturers, traders and other economic actors who have been forced to alter their activities because of insecurity.
Obi Promises To Bring Down Fuel Costs
The NDC candidate also promised to tackle the high cost of petrol, blaming corruption and inefficiencies surrounding the subsidy system for part of the burden being transferred to Nigerians.
“I will remove corruption from subsidy. When I remove it, petrol and every other thing will go down. We are buying fuel at high cost”, he stated.
Obi argued that Nigeria, as an oil-producing country, should be able to manage its petroleum resources in a manner that provides greater economic benefits to its citizens. He said eliminating corruption and waste would be central to his strategy for reducing the cost of petroleum products and, by extension, the cost of transportation and other goods and services.
Obi expressed confidence that his administration would produce measurable changes within its first term.
“Four years, people will see the difference”, he said, adding that his approach would focus on security, economic management, poverty reduction, healthcare, skills development and better utilisation of government resources.
Rather than concentrating government resources on political battles, Obi said his priority would be to improve the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.
Obi Targets Northern Votes
The former Anambra governor also made a direct appeal to voters in Northern Nigeria, promising that the region would be among the biggest beneficiaries of his proposed administration.
“If there is any president the North should celebrate, it’s me. I will deal with poverty, health, skills. I will deal with the North, and they will like it”, he said.
Obi said his administration would pursue programmes aimed at reducing poverty, improving healthcare and equipping young people with skills that could provide employment and economic opportunities. He also promised to moderate the cost of fuel and improve the general economic conditions confronting Nigerians.
The appeal forms part of Obi’s attempt to present his 2027 presidential bid as a national project rather than one driven by regional considerations.
The NDC candidate was also questioned about the killing of Sardauna Sokoto and allegations arising from historical events connected to the matter.
Obi denied any involvement and rejected attempts to associate him with events that occurred when he was much younger.
“I was a baby when all these happened,” he revealed.
Rather than allowing old grievances to continue dominating national discourse, Obi urged Nigerians to look beyond past divisions and work towards building a more united country.
He said Nigeria could overcome its historical and contemporary problems through “love, unity and progress”.
The 2027 presidential election is shaping up as a major contest between the governing APC and opposition forces seeking to unseat President Tinubu. Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party and emerged as a major opposition figure, is now seeking the presidency under the NDC.
His latest comments place three issues at the centre of his campaign: electoral integrity, security and economic hardship.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
