Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called on political leaders in the country to suspend plans ahead of the 2027 general elections while insecurity is devastating communities across Nigeria.
In a statement shared on his official X handle, Obi highlighted the alarming scale of insecurity in the country.
He noted that in the first two months of 2026 alone, over 1,000 Nigerians have reportedly been killed, with several thousands more abducted in violent attacks.
“From Zamfara to Kwara, Ondo, Kebbi, Edo, Benue, Adamawa, Plateau, and many other states, families have buried loved ones, and communities have been emptied by gunshots and fear,” Obi wrote.
He described the situation as worse than in countries officially at war, and lamented the disparity between public discourse on politics and the urgent need to address the bloodshed.
Obi criticized political actors for prioritizing party structures, zoning formulas, and campaign strategies over the lives of citizens.
“We strategize about 2027 while Nigerians struggle to survive 2026. This is inhumane,” he said.
He called for a shift in national priorities, emphasizing that leadership should focus on safeguarding human life.
“History will not remember how many strategies we perfected for 2027; it will remember whether we acted when Nigerians were dying. We must choose Nigerian lives over politics. We must put Nigerians first,” Obi added.
