The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Coalition (NDC), Peter Obi, on Saturday formally accepted his nomination and unveiled an ambitious reform agenda aimed at addressing Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, economic challenges and infrastructure deficit.
Speaking during his acceptance speech in Abuja on Saturday, May 30, 2026, shortly after emerging as the party’s presidential flag bearer, Obi pledged to increase electricity generation and distribution by at least 10,000 megawatts within four years if elected.
The former Anambra State governor expressed appreciation to party leaders, delegates and supporters for entrusting him with the party’s ticket.
“It is with deep humility that I accept the role of presidential candidate for our party. I express my profound gratitude to the leaders of our party, His Excellency Seriake Dickson, the National Chairman, National Secretary and members of the National Working Committee, our relentless supporters, and the Nigerian populace who have steadfastly kept the spirit of hope alive,” he said.
Obi described Nigeria as being at a critical juncture, marked by insecurity, economic hardship and declining public confidence in governance.
“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 and strong faith in the resilience of our people, for I firmly believe that a New Nigeria is possible,” he said.
He stressed that Nigeria’s ethnic, religious and regional diversity should be regarded as a source of strength rather than division.
Addressing security concerns, Obi said the country’s security situation had deteriorated in recent years, citing global terrorism rankings that placed Nigeria among the nations most affected by terrorism.
“In terms of security, the situation in Nigeria has considerably worsened. Global terrorism impact assessments ranked Nigeria as the eighth most affected nation in 2022, sixth in 2024 and fourth in 2026,” he said.
The NDC candidate, however, recalled Nigeria’s respected role in international peacekeeping operations and praised the legacy of the nation’s military leadership in global missions.
He pledged to prioritise security reforms through intelligence-led and technology-driven strategies while addressing root causes such as poverty and unemployment.
“We must address insecurity with resolve and urgency, for no nation can thrive while its citizens live in trepidation. The primary responsibility of government is to ensure the safeguarding of lives and property,” Obi said.
On healthcare, Obi lamented Nigeria’s high infant mortality rate and low health insurance coverage, promising significant improvements.
“Nigeria suffers from one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. Furthermore, health insurance coverage in Nigeria hovers around a mere 10 per cent, in stark contrast to countries like Indonesia, which boast over 90 per cent coverage.
“This situation is regrettable. I pledge that within four years, our health insurance coverage will more than double to over 20 per cent,” he said.
Speaking on the power sector, Obi described inadequate electricity supply as a major obstacle to economic growth and industrial development.
“Nigeria today is the nation with the highest number of citizens lacking access to electricity globally. We currently generate and distribute a mere 4,000 megawatts of electricity for a population exceeding 200 million,” he said.
Highlighting one of his key campaign promises, Obi said: “Over the next four years, I commit to ensuring a minimum increase of 10,000 megawatts in power generation and distribution.”
He also addressed unemployment, arguing that official statistics do not accurately reflect the scale of Nigeria’s labour market crisis.
The former governor pledged targeted support for small businesses, youth-led enterprises and reforms aimed at reducing corruption and the cost of governance.
