Former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has said that forces from the Federal Government were working to stop him from being on the ballot in 2027.

Obi, who was a guest speaker at a leadership programme hosted by a group, NextGen Mentorship and Leadership Initiative on Friday at Madonna University Okija, Anambra State, also challenged all those aspiring to be President of Nigeria, including President Bola Tinubu to a debate, insisting that he is the most qualified of all of them.

Obi also reacted to the judgment of a Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which set aside its earlier ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the NDC as a political party.

Speaking to students, Obi said: “If you know what they are doing to ensure that I’m not on the ballot in 2027, you will be surprised. Nigerian government is doing everything to ensure that I do not contest in this election, but I’m not looking at the obstacles but at the destination.

“I’m rather focussed at the fruitfulness of the destination and that is what keeps me going.

“I’m not desperate to be Nigerian President but desperate to see Nigeria work. Go and obtain your PVC. If you don’t vote, you are hurting your future. When you have your PVC, do not vote for me because I’m an Igbo man. I’m not contesting election because I’m an igbo man, but vote for me because I’m the most qualified.

“I challenge any of those contesting to a debate to say what they want to do for this country, including President Bola Tinubu. I’m not saying it to make you happy but to change Nigeria and make it work.

“It is not about Igbo people but I want a Nigeria where the child of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody. We want a country that will work. The greatest beneficiaries of my presidency will be the north.

“I will fight to make Nigeria better and end the criminality in Nigeria. There is insecurity in the entire country and everyone is involved, so I want to build a country that works.”

Obi insisted that Nigeria’s problem was lack of commitment by leaders, saying that some forces who he described as reactionary forces were bent on holding the country down.

Speaking on the deregistration of the NDC, Obi said, “They can not stop me. They will fail. Let me assure you it is not the end of the road. We are committed to this democracy and those who want to kill this democracy are trying to hurt the society.

“The reactionary elements in Nigeria, those who are bent on holding Nigeria down do not want it to work but I can assure you it would work. I have confidence that I will pull through because the will of the people must prevail.

“No where is safe in Nigeria today, yet the people who should help salvage the country are bent on hurting our democracy. My message to all those who mean well for Nigeria and not just my supporters is for us to remain peaceful and continue to resist this tragedy being imposed on Nigeria.”