The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said he would prioritise building a vibrant opposition if elected Nigeria’s president, stressing that inclusive governance is essential for national development.
Obi made the remarks during an interview with media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, which aired on Saturday.
According to the former Anambra State governor, political leaders and parties should be working together to unite the country and harness diverse ideas that would improve the lives of Nigerians.
Responding to a question on whether President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes his party has the best solutions for the country, Obi argued that no single political party has exclusive ownership of ideas capable of driving national progress.
“If I’m the president of this country, I will do everything possible to make opposition parties strong and participatory in governance.
“The more you bring everybody together, the more we discuss it, the more we consult, the better the result,” he said.
Peter Obi was among the opposition figures who formed a coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in July 2025 and formally joined the party on December 31, 2025.
However, in May 2026, he exited the ADC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), attributing his decision to internal divisions and ongoing legal disputes within the party.
BACKSTORY:
Peter Obi has consistently advocated for inclusive governance, institutional reforms and greater accountability in Nigeria’s political system. Since contesting the 2023 presidential election, the former Anambra State governor has repeatedly criticised what he describes as the country’s winner-takes-all style of politics, arguing that national development requires collaboration across political divides rather than partisan rivalry.
In the build-up to the 2027 general elections, Obi has remained one of the country’s leading opposition figures. After initially joining the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), he later defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), citing internal divisions and protracted legal disputes within the ADC. His latest remarks come amid increasing debate over the role of opposition parties, coalition politics and democratic governance as political activities ahead of the next general election continue to gather momentum.
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