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.”

The media office of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has described the Lokoja High Court judgment regarding the party’s registration status as a temporary setback, saying the decision will be challenged legally.

This is contained in a statement by the Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR, signed by its spokesperson, Idris Zekeri Jnr, on Friday.

POMR noted that it has been flooded with inquiries from journalists and concerned Nigerians following the decision.

The media office urged Obi’s followers, political partners, and the general public to stay calm while the legal team finishes reviewing the judgment and prepares to file an appeal.

It maintained that it fully expected to face systemic hurdles in the ongoing bid to challenge the political establishment, viewing the court’s decision as a brief obstacle rather than a permanent defeat for its political objectives.

“We have received the news of today’s bizarre ruling from the court in Lokoja regarding the legal status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

“While our legal teams are thoroughly reviewing the judgment to initiate immediate corrective and appellate measures, our Principal urges all our supporters, coalition partners, and patriots nationwide to remain absolutely calm and focused,” the statement said.

According to the group, the legal decision would not change the ultimate goal of establishing an alternative political platform for Nigerians.

Paul Ibe, an aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has urged opposition leaders, including Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, to unite ahead of the 2027 election following a Federal High Court ruling that set aside its earlier judgment directing the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.

In a post on X on Friday, the aide described the Lokoja court’s decision as a “wake-up call” for the opposition, alleging that President Bola Tinubu was pursuing a de facto one-party state.

He claimed the ruling signalled that there was “no hiding place for the opposition” and accused the President of seeking to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 election.

Ibe further alleged that Tinubu intended to “obliterate the opposition” if allowed to have his way politically, and warned that Nigeria’s democracy was under threat.

He, however, said it was not too late for opposition parties to harmonise their strengths ahead of the 2027 elections, urging leaders such as Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and others to work together if they hoped to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ibe wrote: “The decision of the Federal High Court Lokoja in settting aside its earlier judgement on the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) should be a wake-up call that there is no hiding place for the opposition as the incompetent and clueless Tinubu @officialABAT  sets his sights on enthroning a de facto one-party state.

“His message is loud and clear: that he will obliterate the opposition and destroy our hard-won democracy if he does not have his way in the 2027 election. It is not too late for the opposition to harmonize their strengths ahead of 2027 if the Yar’Adua 2.0 President Tinubu is to be retired to either Bourdillon or Iragbiji!”

DAILY POST reported Friday’s ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, where Justice Isah Dashen set aside the court’s earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the NDC.

The judge held that the earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, PMP, which claimed ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC but was not joined as a party in the suit.

Counsel to the Peace Movement Party, C.S. Ekeocha, said the ruling restored all parties to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment and directed that all necessary parties be joined before the substantive case is heard afresh.

He added that all actions taken by INEC pursuant to the earlier judgment, including the recognition and registration of the NDC, have been reversed pending the final determination of the suit.