Peter Obi Challenges Nigerians: ‘If There’s Anything I, Kwankwaso Have Done Wrong, Say It Out Now’ | Sahara Reporters

Obi made the challenge while addressing supporters during a townhall meeting organised by the NDC, where he and Kwankwaso campaigned for support ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, Peter Obi, has challenged Nigerians to publicly expose any wrongdoing committed by him or his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Obi made the challenge while addressing supporters during a townhall meeting organised by the NDC, where he and Kwankwaso campaigned for support ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“If you have anything that you know that I have done that is wrong, say it out now. I’m challenging the world over. If you have anything that you have done that is wrong, say it out now,” Obi said.

The former governor of Anambra State claimed he was prepared to have his personal and political background scrutinised, urging Nigerians to independently verify his records.

“Both of us have presented our background from our date of birth to our school, education, everything to the people. And I want to tell everybody, you can go and verify our background worldwide. Anywhere,” he said.

Obi also appeared to refer to a legal dispute involving an individual who he said claimed to possess damaging information about him.

“When I took somebody to court, I said I’m taking him to court because he said he knows something he can say and the people will be shocked. I said I want him to say what people will be shocked,” Obi said.

Obi defended the decision of the NDC to directly engage Nigerians rather than rely on traditional campaign rallies.

According to Obi, politicians seeking elective office, particularly the presidency, must regularly appear before voters, explain their records and policies, and answer questions from the people.

“Anybody who says he wants to serve in this country, from local government to president, especially the president, must go out and speak to the people,” he said.

Obi criticised what he described as a political culture where candidates “outsource” campaign events, and questions are allegedly arranged in advance.

“What we do today is that people are sourced for campaigns. People are sourced even to answer questions. And we want to stop it,” he said.

He said the NDC’s town hall meetings were designed to allow Nigerians to question the leaders directly without pre-screened questions.

“Do we have to do a pre-question? I said no. Let the people ask us when we come. What do they want? Let them tell us. If they don’t like us, they tell us, stop this, we don’t want you again. We want to hear you,” Obi said.
He also condemned the use of intimidation and political influence during elections, insisting that the votes of Nigerians must count in 2027.

“Today, we see governors, political appointees, giving orders and threatening that they must win,” he said.

“They are even out there putting on masks and threatening other people. Let me tell you, all those threats will come to an end. Our vote this time must count.”

Obi said he had travelled from Lagos to Abuja and then to Port Harcourt on Friday to attend political and public engagements, using the movement to contrast what he described as the increasingly distant relationship between political leaders and citizens.

He recalled the campaign style of Nigeria’s first president, Nnamdi Azikiwe, saying political leaders in previous eras travelled extensively to meet voters.
“We said that Dr. Azikiwe campaigned in 43 cities within a month. Today, people sit in their houses and are source campaign to the people,” Obi said.
He said leadership should be treated as service rather than privilege, repeatedly describing himself and Kwankwaso as servants of the Nigerian people.
“Leadership cannot be assaulted. If you want to lead, you answer to the people,” he said. “And I assure you, and I say it rhetorically, as your chief servant, I will be speaking to Nigerians daily, weekly, monthly.”
Obi also spoke on Nigeria’s socioeconomic condition, saying the country has witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of people living in poverty.
“Everybody who is a Nigerian today has everything to feel sad. This government came in and decided to impoverish Nigerians. Today we moved from 87 million people living in poverty to over 140 million,” he said.
He further raised concerns over Nigeria’s infant mortality rate, comparing the country’s situation with India and Indonesia.
“Today our infant mortality has surpassed our comparable states. Infant mortality in Indonesia is 15 per 1,000. In India, it is about 20 per 1,000,” Obi said.
“Here, it is about 70 per 1000. So in India we have seven times our population. Our infant mortality is three times that.”
He argued that the country’s healthcare system, particularly primary healthcare centres, required urgent intervention.
“It cannot continue. All our primary healthcare centers are not functioning,” he said.
Obi urged Nigerians to take ownership of the NDC, rather than leaving the responsibility of campaigning solely to politicians.
“Please, you are part of the Presidential Campaign Council. Our campaign council is you. So don’t wait, do more,” Obi told supporters.
He urged supporters to help the party win the 2027 election so that its leaders could implement the changes they have promised.