Peter Obi will contest Nigeria’s next presidential election after securing the nomination of the newly formed Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), setting up a rematch of the 2023 three-way presidential race.
Obi, a former two-term governor of Anambra State, was named the party’s candidate on Saturday, months after the NDC was officially registered in February.
“No nation can thrive when citizens can no longer sleep with their eyes closed,” Obi said after accepting the nomination, citing Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.
The announcement comes days after President Bola Tinubu secured the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination for a second term following a primary in which he received more than 10 million votes.
Tinubu’s re-election bid faces growing public frustration over economic hardship and insecurity, despite government and analyst assessments that his reforms have helped stabilise the economy and attract investment. The opposition, however, remains divided.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emerged as the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), creating the prospect of another three-way contest that could split opposition votes and improve Tinubu’s chances of retaining power.
Tinubu won the 2023 election with 36.6% of the vote, ahead of Atiku on 29% and Obi on 25%.
Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who secured just over 6% of votes in the last election, is expected to be named Obi’s running mate.
Obi, Atiku and Kwankwaso had initially sought to unite under an ADC-led opposition coalition, but the alliance unravelled after Obi and Kwankwaso defected to the NDC, where supporters have rallied behind what they call the “OK” movement.