Peter Obi 2027 presidency bid gains momentum as the NDC candidate says he will lead directly and remain answerable to Nigerians if elected
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, said in an exclusive Arise TV interview on Thursday, September 10, 2026, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not fully in control of his administration and vowed to provide direct leadership if elected president on February 20, 2027.
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Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and one of the leading opposition figures preparing for the 2027 presidential election, said his administration would maintain a direct relationship with Nigerians rather than rely on intermediaries to communicate decisions or respond to public concerns.
“Something I believe: Tinubu is not in charge. I will be in charge. No one will speak for Peter. I will be answerable to the people,” Obi said.
The statement represents a direct challenge to Tinubu as both men prepare for what is expected to be a closely contested presidential election.
Obi’s argument centres on accountability and presidential control. He said that, if elected, Nigerians would hear directly from him on matters concerning his government and that responsibility for decisions would rest with him.
The former Anambra governor has increasingly placed governance, accountability and institutional reform at the centre of his political message as he builds his campaign for 2027.
His comments also come as opposition parties and political movements continue efforts to consolidate their support ahead of the election.
Obi is contesting the presidency under the NDC after previously running under the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, when he finished third behind Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar.
The 2027 contest is shaping up around several political blocs, with the governing All Progressives Congress seeking another term for Tinubu while opposition parties work to present a credible alternative.
Obi’s NDC campaign has also been associated with efforts to bring together supporters from different political backgrounds, including people connected to the wider Obidient movement.
However, the candidate has continued to emphasise the need for a formal political structure through which his presidential ambition can be pursued.
His latest remarks underline his attempt to present himself as a president who would personally take responsibility for the direction of government.
The pledge to be “answerable to the people” also speaks to one of the recurring issues in Nigerian politics: public accountability after elections.
Presidents routinely operate through ministers, advisers, spokespersons and other officials, but Obi’s comments suggest that he would place particular emphasis on direct communication with citizens and personal responsibility for government policy.
His criticism of Tinubu is likely to become part of the wider political debate as the 2027 campaign gathers pace.
Tinubu’s administration, meanwhile, has defended its record and pointed to economic reforms and other government measures as evidence of its approach to national development.
The election will therefore present voters with competing arguments over the economy, governance, institutional accountability and the direction of the country.
For Obi, the central message is that presidential authority should be visible, accountable and directly connected to citizens.
“If Nigerians elect me,” his remarks suggest, responsibility for the government will rest clearly with him rather than being obscured by political intermediaries.
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With the 2027 presidential contest approaching, the NDC candidate is positioning that promise of direct leadership as a key part of his appeal to voters seeking a different style of governance.
