Obi Makinde unity call gains attention as both politicians urge Nigerians to unite against poverty, hunger and insecurity ahead of the 2027 election
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, and Seyi Makinde, Oyo State governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, called for political unity to rebuild Nigeria on Monday, September 7, 2026, in Abuja.
Also read: Bala Mohammed Warns Against Underrating Makinde in 2027
Obi made the appeal while attending the commissioning of Makinde’s 2027 presidential campaign office, where he urged Nigerians to support whoever emerges victorious in a free, fair and credible election.
The former Anambra State governor said Makinde was qualified to seek the presidency, stressing that the 2027 contest should not deepen divisions among Nigerians.
“What we are doing today is to show you that, for us, we don’t have desperation. We want the people of Nigeria to make their choice,” Obi said.
He said Nigeria’s pressing challenges should matter more than political disagreements, pointing to poverty, hunger and insecurity as issues requiring a collective response.
“We can’t all continue the way we are going today. Our people are hungry. Our people are poor. Our people are insecure,” Obi said.
The former governor added that whoever wins through a credible process should receive the cooperation needed to address the country’s difficulties.
“Whoever wins, genuinely, from a free, fair and credible election, we all want to work together to save this country from collapse,” he said.
Obi also called for a change in the character of Nigerian politics, arguing that political competition should focus on finding practical solutions to the problems confronting citizens.
“Let our quarrel be to feed our people. Let our quarrel be to pull our people out of poverty,” he said.
He further expressed support for a Nigeria where social and economic opportunities are not determined by personal connections.
“We want a Nigeria where a child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody,” Obi said.
The message came as the 2027 presidential race begins to take clearer shape, with several prominent political figures positioning themselves for the contest.
Makinde’s campaign office commissioning provided an unusual moment of political camaraderie, as Obi, himself a presidential contender, attended an event linked to the campaign of another candidate.
Other major figures expected to feature prominently in the 2027 contest include former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is contesting under the African Democratic Congress.
As political parties and candidates prepare for the election, the call from Obi and Makinde places emphasis on cooperation beyond partisan interests.
For Obi, the central issue is not simply who wins the presidency, but whether the political process can produce leadership capable of improving the daily lives of Nigerians.
Also read: Bala Mohammed Warns Against Underrating Makinde in 2027
The appeal also reflects growing attention on the need for credible elections, peaceful competition and national unity as the country moves towards the 2027 polls.
