Obi accepts NDC presidential ticket, pledges to tackle insecurity and boost power supply

The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Coalition, Peter Obi, formally accepted his party’s nomination on Saturday, unveiling a sweeping reform agenda that prioritises national security, economic recovery and infrastructure development.

In his acceptance speech delivered in Abuja, Obi promised to raise the country’s electricity generation from its current level of about 4,000 megawatts to at least 10,000 megawatts within four years if elected.

Obi, who expressed gratitude to party leaders and delegates for their confidence in his leadership, acknowledged that Nigeria was at a critical juncture, plagued by rising insecurity, economic distress and growing public disillusionment.

“Businesses are struggling, communities are suffering, and an alarming number of citizens have lost faith in the very concept of governance. Yet I stand before you filled with optimism,” he said.

Citing global terrorism indices, Obi noted that Nigeria’s security situation had steadily worsened, moving from the eighth most terrorism-affected nation in 2022 to fourth place in the latest rankings. He vowed to prioritise intelligence-driven, technology-supported security reforms to protect lives and property.

On healthcare, the former governor decried the country’s high infant mortality rate and low health insurance coverage, which he said hovered around 10 percent. He pledged to double coverage to over 20 percent within four years.

Obi also criticised official unemployment figures, describing them as unreflective of the real crisis. He promised targeted support for small businesses, youth-driven enterprises and broader governance reforms to curb corruption and reduce the cost of government.