Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said he will spend his holidays in Nigeria if elected president in the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the commitment in his Independence Day address in Abuja, saying he plans to use his four-year tenure to visit different parts of the country, interact directly with citizens and gain a better understanding of their challenges.
The former Anambra State governor said he would lead by example by ensuring that presidential holidays are spent within Nigeria rather than abroad.
He said states including Zamfara, Borno, Kwara, Ebonyi, Edo and Ekiti, among others, would form part of his visits.
Obi said the visits would allow him to engage with Nigerians, listen to their concerns and experience the conditions in different communities firsthand.
The NDC candidate also promised to make governance more accountable and measurable, with emphasis on improving the welfare and productivity of Nigerians.
He said his administration would begin delivering visible results within its first year in office if elected.
On security, Obi pledged to intensify efforts against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, with the aim of creating conditions that would allow farmers to return to their farms, children to attend school and businesses to operate without fear.
He also said Nigerians should not be compelled to live in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps because of insecurity or inadequate government protection.
Obi criticises APC administration
In his Independence Day address, Obi criticised the APC-led Federal Government over what he described as persistent challenges facing the country despite commitments made before the 2023 elections.
He cited poverty, insecurity, kidnapping, banditry and the large number of children out of school among the major issues confronting Nigeria.
According to him, the country’s difficulties are not primarily due to a shortage of resources, but the inability of successive governments to effectively convert available resources into improved human development, productivity, security and broader economic opportunities.
Obi also referred to a recent visit to Sokoto State with his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, where they engaged stakeholders on issues including insecurity, poverty, unemployment, drug abuse and out-of-school children.
He said their visit to an IDP camp in Ramin Kura, Sokoto metropolis, exposed the difficult conditions faced by displaced women and children.
The former governor said the situation demonstrated the scale of hardship affecting communities across the country and called for changes in the approach to governance.
Obi had previously spoken against Nigerian presidents spending their vacation periods outside the country.
He argued that presidential holidays could instead be used to visit communities facing security, economic and developmental challenges.
He maintained that while a Nigerian president would need to travel abroad for official duties, personal vacation periods should be spent within the country.
Responding to concerns about security in areas affected by insurgency and banditry, including Borno State, Obi said such challenges should not prevent the President from spending holiday periods in Nigeria.
