Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have taken their campaign to Kaduna State.
The duo held a town hall meeting in Kaduna as part of the NDC’s ongoing engagements with citizens ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The meeting gave residents and other participants the opportunity to raise questions and speak about issues affecting their communities and the country at large.
Obi disclosed details of the Kaduna engagement in a statement shared on his Facebook page after the meeting.
He said the event was organised to allow the party’s presidential team and other candidates to interact directly with Nigerians.
According to him, the Kaduna meeting came after a similar town hall session held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The former Anambra governor said he attended the Kaduna programme alongside Kwankwaso and other candidates of the party.
Before the town hall, Obi said they visited the Sheikh Muhammad Sambo Memorial Islamic Institute in Rigachikun, Kaduna.
The engagement in Kaduna focused on several issues that have continued to generate concern among Nigerians.
These included insecurity, poverty, healthcare, education, corruption, fuel costs and the general state of the Nigerian economy.
Obi said the meeting was also an opportunity for the political leaders to hear directly from citizens rather than relying only on reports from officials and party structures.
He said participants were able to raise concerns, ask questions and make contributions on issues affecting their daily lives.
One of the major areas discussed was insecurity.
Obi said the NDC leadership would work towards creating an environment where Nigerians affected by insecurity could return safely to their communities.
He specifically mentioned displaced Nigerians who have been unable to return to their homes, communities and farms because of security concerns.
The former governor said addressing insecurity would be important to restoring economic activities and improving the living conditions of affected citizens.
He also spoke about the need to reduce poverty and expand opportunities for Nigerians.
According to Obi, the country needs an economy that allows citizens to live decent and dignified lives.
He said this would require greater attention to investment in sectors such as healthcare and education.
The issue of fuel costs also featured in Obi’s account of the Kaduna town hall.
He said discussions covered corruption and what he described as inefficiencies linked to the fuel subsidy regime.
The former governor maintained that reducing the burden of fuel costs on Nigerians should remain part of the wider conversation about economic management.
The Port Harcourt meeting earlier in September also featured discussions on hardship, insecurity, unemployment, infrastructure and the state of the economy.
At that engagement, Kwankwaso spoke about the economic difficulties facing Nigerians and raised concerns over purchasing power, education, healthcare, infrastructure and insecurity, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
The Kaduna meeting further expanded the series of direct interactions between the NDC presidential candidates and citizens.
Obi, in his message after the Kaduna meeting, also called on other politicians to adopt a similar approach by engaging directly with Nigerians.
“Let me use this opportunity once again to call on our opponents to also speak directly with the people and listen to their feedback,” Obi said.
He argued that direct interaction with citizens was an important part of democratic leadership.
“The very essence of democracy is people-centred governance. Leaders and aspiring leaders must therefore leave their comfort zones and interface directly with the people they seek to serve.”
The former governor thanked the NDC leadership and those who organised the Kaduna meeting.
He also commended residents who participated in the engagement.
Obi said the interaction showed the importance of listening to citizens and understanding their concerns before seeking to lead them.
Obi ended his message by restating the campaign slogan associated with his political platform.
“A New Nigeria is POssible, and Nigeria will be OK.”
