The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to critically examine the direction of the country and take a decisive stand ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the call while delivering a goodwill address at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Democracy Dialogue held at the Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre in Bauchi.
Speaking on the theme, “Beyond Elections: Can Political Parties and the Judiciary Save African Democracy?”, the former Anambra State governor expressed concern over the state of Nigeria’s democracy and what he described as the changing role of the judiciary in the country’s political process.
He urged Nigerians to work collectively to reverse negative trends affecting the nation and ensure that the 2027 elections strengthen democratic governance and produce outcomes acceptable to all stakeholders.
Reflecting on his legal battle over the Anambra State governorship, Obi cited the case as an example of how the judiciary had previously delivered judgments based on the merits of cases rather than political considerations.
He recalled that a former Supreme Court justice who handled his case had never met him before delivering the judgment that eventually paved the way for his emergence as governor. He also noted that a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal had determined his case based on the facts presented before it.
“That is supposed to be the role of the judiciary in a democratic society — delivering judgment based on the merits of the facts available,” Obi said.
However, the NDC candidate expressed concern over what he described as the growing influence of politics on the judiciary, alleging that some judicial decisions were increasingly being shaped by political considerations.
“What we have today is judges singing, ‘Mr President, on your mandate we shall stand.’ That is not what the judiciary is supposed to be in a true democracy,” he said.
Obi called on Nigerians to demand responsible leadership and carefully consider the kind of country they want to leave for future generations.
He warned that continued bad governance, injustice and political manipulation could have serious consequences for the country and its citizens.
The former Anambra governor also commended former President Goodluck Jonathan for sustaining the annual democracy dialogue, describing it as an important platform for examining Nigeria’s democratic development and promoting discussions on good governance and judicial independence.
Obi maintained that Nigeria has the potential to become a better and more prosperous nation if citizens unite, demand accountability and insist on responsible leadership.
