Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to make governance measurable and accountable, promising that Nigerians would begin to see what he described as tangible results from his proposed administration within its first year if elected in the 2027 presidential election.

Obi made the commitment in his Independence Day address on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence Anniversary. He said his proposed administration would focus on improving the welfare and productivity of Nigerians, with security, education, healthcare and productive enterprise among its major priorities.

The former Anambra State governor said his message was one of hope and responsibility, arguing that Nigeria could overcome its current challenges through accountable leadership and effective use of the country’s resources.

He said that, if elected, his administration would establish measurable standards for governance and focus government policies on improving citizens’ welfare and productivity.

A major part of Obi’s proposed agenda is security. He said his administration would take what he described as decisive action against insecurity to create conditions that would allow farmers to return safely to their farms, children to attend school and businesses to operate without fear.

Obi also addressed the plight of Nigerians displaced by insecurity. He said citizens should not have to remain in internally displaced persons’ camps because of a failure to provide adequate security, adding that his proposed government would work towards creating conditions for displaced Nigerians to return safely and with dignity to their communities.

His comments followed a recent visit to Sokoto State with Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, during which they visited the Ramin Kura IDP camp in Sokoto metropolis. Obi said the visit exposed the difficult conditions facing displaced women and children and highlighted challenges involving insecurity, education, healthcare and livelihoods.

Reports from the visit indicate that the Ramin Kura camp has been housing displaced people affected by insecurity, with concerns also raised about access to basic facilities. Obi used the situation to argue that Nigerians displaced from their communities should ultimately be able to return home once adequate security is restored.

On the economy, Obi said Nigeria needed to move away from what he described as a consumption-driven model towards a more productive economy capable of creating jobs and expanding opportunities.

He identified agriculture, manufacturing, human capital development and enterprise as important areas for such a shift. He also said education, healthcare and security should be treated as essential foundations for national development rather than optional areas of government spending.

The NDC candidate argued that Nigeria’s difficulties were not caused by a lack of natural and human resources but by the failure to sufficiently convert those resources into human development, productivity, security and broader prosperity.

In his Independence Day message, he pointed to poverty, insecurity, children being out of school, hunger, maternal and infant mortality, youth unemployment and underemployment, drug abuse and low life expectancy as issues requiring serious national attention. Some of the figures and assessments cited in his wider address were presented as his own assessment of the country’s situation rather than independently established measurements, and are therefore best understood in that context.

Obi also promised that, if elected President, he would spend his holidays within Nigeria rather than travelling abroad for vacation.

He listed Zamfara, Borno, Kwara, Ebonyi, Edo and Ekiti among states he intends to visit during his holidays, saying the approach would enable him to interact directly with Nigerians, understand their challenges and observe conditions across different parts of the country.

The former governor said his proposed administration would seek to build a Nigeria that is secure, united and productive, with public resources deployed for the benefit of citizens.

He also called on Nigerians to demand accountability from those entrusted with public office, arguing that national development requires more than promises and prayers and depends on responsible leadership as well as active citizenship.

Obi's Independence Day address forms part of his campaign positioning ahead of the 2027 presidential election, in which he is seeking to present his proposed approach to security, economic management, human development and governance to Nigerian voters.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia