Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has criticised Nigeria’s political class for concentrating on strategies for the 2027 general elections while insecurity continues to claim lives across the country.
In a statement shared via his X account on Sunday, Obi expressed concern over what he described as the growing wave of killings and abductions recorded within the first two months of 2026.
“It is deeply troubling that while many of us in politics are already preoccupied with permutations for 2027 — plotting alliances and campaign strategies — Nigerians are being killed and kidnapped in alarming numbers,” he said.
According to him, reports indicate that more than 1,000 people have lost their lives since the beginning of the year, with several others abducted by armed groups operating in different parts of the country.
Citing incidents across states including Zamfara, Kwara, Plateau, Benue and others, Obi said communities have been devastated by repeated attacks.
“From the North-West to the North-Central and beyond, families are mourning loved ones, and entire communities are living in fear. Yet, our national discourse appears dominated by conversations about zoning, party structures and electoral calculations,” he stated.
The former Anambra State governor described the situation as unacceptable, stressing that governance should prioritise the safety of citizens over political ambition.
“We cannot continue to debate power-sharing arrangements while citizens are sharing burial arrangements. Leadership must first guarantee the protection of lives and property before any talk of elections,” Obi said.
Referring to recent violence in Plateau State, he added, “It is heartbreaking to see families burying their loved ones after brutal attacks, while the political space remains fixated on 2027. We are strategising about the future when many Nigerians are struggling to survive the present.”
Obi urged leaders at all levels to redirect their focus toward addressing the security crisis and restoring public confidence.
“History will judge us not by how well we planned for the next election, but by how we responded when Nigerians were under threat. We must place human life above politics and act with urgency,” he said.
