Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, on Thursday, October 1, 2026, in Abuja, vowed to spend his holidays within Nigeria if elected President in the 2027 general elections, saying he would use the periods to visit states and engage directly with citizens.
Obi made the pledge in his Independence Day address, where he said his proposed four-year tenure would involve travelling across the country to better understand the realities facing Nigerians.
Also read: US congratulates Nigeria at 66, reaffirms strong ties
“As I have always done, I will lead by example. In four years as President of this great nation, I will not spend my holidays outside Nigeria,” Obi said.
He listed Zamfara, Borno, Kwara, Ebonyi and Edo among the states he intends to visit, adding that he would use the trips to listen to Nigerians and understand their concerns.
“I want to continue to see Nigeria. I want to know Nigeria. I want to spend time with Nigerians, listen to them, understand their challenges and celebrate their resilience,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor also pledged to make governance measurable and accountable, with emphasis on citizens’ welfare and productivity.
Obi said Nigerians would begin to see what he described as tangible results within the first year of his administration if elected.
He further pledged to address insecurity, saying his administration would work towards creating conditions that would allow farmers to return to their farms, children to attend school and businesses to operate without fear.
“We will confront insecurity decisively so that our farmers can return to their farms, our children can return to school, businesses can operate freely, and families can live without fear,” he said.
Obi also criticised the performance of the APC-led Federal Government, arguing that Nigeria continued to face significant challenges despite the promises made during the 2023 election campaign.
He cited poverty, insecurity, unemployment and the number of out-of-school children among the issues requiring urgent attention.
According to Obi, Nigeria’s difficulties are not primarily the result of a shortage of resources but of the failure of successive governments to translate the country’s resources into improved human development, productivity and security.
The presidential candidate also referred to his recent visit to Sokoto State with his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, where they held consultations on insecurity, poverty, unemployment, drug abuse and out-of-school children.
Obi said a visit to an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Ramin Kura, within Sokoto metropolis, exposed the difficult circumstances facing displaced women and children.
“What we saw in Ramin Kura is not an isolated story. It is a reflection of the suffering experienced, in different forms, across many parts of Nigeria,” he said.
He argued that political leaders should remain closely connected to the realities of ordinary Nigerians.
The latest pledge follows comments Obi made about a month earlier, when he criticised the practice of Nigerian presidents spending their holidays abroad.
At the time, he argued that presidential holidays could instead be used to visit parts of Nigeria facing security and developmental challenges.
“Nigeria’s President must spend his vacation in Nigeria,” Obi said during the earlier discussion.
He added that while a president should travel abroad for official engagements, holiday periods should provide an opportunity to engage with citizens within the country.
Also read: US congratulates Nigeria at 66, reaffirms strong ties
Obi’s latest comments place domestic travel and direct engagement with Nigerians among the commitments he says would guide his proposed presidency ahead of the 2027 election.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
