Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to take a decisive stand on the future direction of the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the call on Tuesday while delivering a goodwill remark at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi.
He said Nigerians must begin asking critical questions about the country’s direction and work together to reverse what he described as negative trends affecting the nation.
The former Anambra State governor also stressed the need for citizens to take an active role in ensuring that the 2027 elections strengthen democracy and produce outcomes acceptable to Nigerians.
Obi Raises Concern Over Judiciary
Speaking on the theme of the dialogue, “Beyond Elections: Can Political Parties and Judiciary Save African Democracy?”, Obi expressed concern over what he described as changes in the role of the judiciary in Nigeria’s democratic process.
According to him, the judiciary previously played an important role in strengthening democratic governance.
“In the past, the judiciary played positive roles in enshrining democratic leadership in Nigeria, unlike today,” Obi said.
He recalled his legal battle over the Anambra State governorship election, noting that some of the judicial officers who handled his case did not personally know him.
Obi cited the judgment that eventually paved the way for him to become governor of Anambra State as an example of what he believes the judiciary should represent in a democracy.
“That is supposed to be the role of the judiciary in a democratic society — delivering judgment based on the merits of the facts available,” he said.
However, Obi alleged that political considerations now influence some judicial decisions.
“What we have today is judges singing, ‘Mr President, on your mandate we shall stand.’ That is not what the judiciary is supposed to be in a true democracy,” he said.
‘Nigerians Must Decide Where the Country Is Going’
Obi called on Nigerians to reflect on the future of the country and demand responsible leadership ahead of 2027.
“It is time for every Nigerian to sit down and find ourselves, where this nation is going,” he said.
He warned that the decisions Nigerians make today could have lasting consequences for future generations.
The NDC candidate urged citizens to reject what he described as bad governance, injustice and political manipulation, arguing that Nigeria has the potential to become a more prosperous country if citizens unite and demand accountability from political leaders.
Obi also commended former President Goodluck Jonathan for consistently organising the democracy dialogue, describing it as an important platform for discussions on democratic governance and judicial independence.
