Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate and 2027 presidential hopeful, has declared that the northern region of Nigeria will celebrate his leadership if elected as president.

Obi made the statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, emphasizing the untapped potential of the North and his commitment to unlocking it through competent governance.

“The biggest asset of this country is in the North — the uncultivated lands, the vast resources, and the large population. But these have been undermined by insecurity,” he said.

Obi, now a leading figure in the newly formed opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), criticized past voting patterns, urging Nigerians to prioritize merit over ethnic and religious sentiments.

“We have voted for incompetence, we’ve voted for tribe, we’ve voted for religion. Let’s vote for competence,” he stressed.

He assured the region of a focused approach to ending the insecurity that plagues many northern communities.

“I want them to trust me. The criminality we face in the North today, I will deal with it. If I am president, the North will celebrate me. I have an idea of the problem,” Obi added.

Obi’s remarks come amid ongoing political realignments and the build-up to the 2027 general elections.