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.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has rejected Friday’s ruling of the Federal High Court in Lokoja setting aside the earlier judgment that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register it as a political party.

The party on insisted it has not been deregistered.

In a statement issued after the ruling, the party said it was surprised by the court’s decision to set aside its December 2025 judgment following an application by the Peace Movement Party, PMP, an association it described as unregistered and unknown to the NDC.

The party maintained that after the December 2025 judgment, INEC registered the NDC, enabling it to commence political activities, register members, conduct ward, state and national congresses, hold conventions and conclude primaries for elective offices in line with the electoral timetable.

According to the NDC, it also fielded candidates in the recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and has nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections.

The party argued that the Federal High Court had become ‘functus officio’ after delivering its final judgment in the case against INEC and had already addressed issues relating to the party’s logo and colours.

It contended that the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the victory sign adopted by the NDC, was neither a registered political party nor participating in the current registration process.

The NDC further stated that the court’s latest ruling did not expressly order its deregistration, contrary to reports suggesting otherwise.

The party said it has instructed its legal team to immediately challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, questioning both the jurisdiction of the court and the propriety of the decision.

“We assure the general public, and particularly our candidates at all levels, that our party is on course. The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal as soon as possible,” the statement read.

The party also accused unnamed individuals of attempting to shrink Nigeria’s democratic space and suppress opposition voices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

DAILY POST reported that Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja on Friday set aside the court’s earlier judgment directing INEC to register the NDC.

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

Counsel to the PMP, C.S. Ekeocha, said the ruling restored all parties to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment and reversed all actions taken by INEC pursuant to that judgment, including the recognition and registration of the NDC, pending the final determination of the suit.