Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to directly engage Nigerians and explain the policies, programmes and achievements of his administration ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Obi made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), signed by its spokesperson, Idris Zekeri.

The former Anambra State governor accused the President of preparing for a second-term bid while allegedly relying heavily on ministers, governors, party officials, media aides and other political associates to campaign on his behalf.

According to Obi’s media office, political surrogates may represent a president at certain official functions but cannot replace direct interaction between a presidential candidate and the electorate.

The statement stressed that Nigerians deserved the opportunity to hear directly from candidates seeking their votes and question them about their records and plans.

“The Nigerian people need to see the candidate. They need to hear the candidate. They need to question the candidate.”

Obi questions Tinubu’s second-term bid

Obi’s media team argued that the 2027 presidential election should focus on the records, policies, competence and plans of the individuals seeking to govern the country.

It challenged Tinubu to personally explain the impact of his administration’s policies since assuming office in 2023, particularly amid concerns over economic hardship facing many Nigerians.

The statement said:

“If the President believes his administration has performed well, let him come before Nigerians and say so himself.”

It further challenged Tinubu to explain the state of the economy, the difficulties confronting households and what he intends to do differently if given another four years in office.

“Let the candidate explain what has changed since 2023. Let him tell Nigerians what he intends to do differently in a second term. And let him hear directly from the citizens whose votes he seeks,” the statement added.

Criticism over National Peace Accord absence

The Peter Obi Media Office also criticised Tinubu over his reported absence from the National Peace Accord organised by the National Peace Committee under the leadership of former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

The group described the President’s absence from the event as disrespectful to efforts aimed at promoting peaceful elections.

It said the initiative involved prominent figures, including Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, who it said had contributed to efforts to promote peaceful democratic processes.

The statement also urged presidential candidates to participate directly in major national engagements, including platforms where Nigerians can question them on issues affecting the country.

‘No more proxy campaigns’

Obi’s media office warned against what it described as a possible campaign strategy in which political surrogates would do most of the public engagement on behalf of the President.

It said:

“A President asking Nigerians for another four years cannot permanently hide behind ministers, party officials, media aides, governors, or other political surrogates.”

The group maintained that accountability must remain directly between elected leaders and the citizens who gave them their mandate.

It added:

“The office belongs to the people; the mandate belongs to the people; and the accountability must be directly to the people.”

Obi’s camp subsequently challenged Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to abandon what it called “proxy campaigns” and engage voters directly.

“This is not disrespect. It is democracy,” the statement declared.

2027 election should be about candidates, ideas

The NDC candidate’s media office said the forthcoming election should not become a contest dominated by political surrogates, but should instead allow Nigerians to assess the candidates themselves.

It said the election should be based on “candidates, competence, records, ideas, and character”, rather than the ability of political parties to mobilise large numbers of spokespersons and supporters.

The statement concluded with a direct challenge to Tinubu:

“If President Tinubu wants a second term, let him come to the people. Let him see and hear the people. And let Nigerians question him and decide — not on the voices of his surrogates, but on the record and vision of the man asking for their votes.”

It added that the 2027 election should reflect the principle that Nigerians were electing a public servant accountable to the people, rather than an individual elevated beyond public scrutiny.