Abuja, September 7, 2026 – Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, on Monday attended the inauguration of the Makinde/Daura presidential campaign office of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Abuja.
Obi publicly declared that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is qualified to contest for the presidency and urged political leaders and Nigerians to prioritise national rescue over partisan rivalry ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi arrived at the Wuse venue around midday for the commissioning of the campaign headquarters. The event drew APM leaders, including National Leader and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, party officials, supporters and other political figures.
Footage from the ceremony showed Obi seated alongside Mohammed as the facility was unveiled.
Speaking at the event, Obi said: “We have a candidate who is contesting for president, my dear brother Makinde. Is he qualified to be president? Yes, he is qualified.”
He framed his presence as a demonstration of openness rather than desperation. “What we are doing today is to show you that, for us, we don’t have desperation. We want the people of Nigeria to make their choice. Whoever they choose, all of us will come together to build a new Nigeria,” Obi stated.
Highlighting the country’s challenges, he added: “We can’t all continue the way we are going today. Our people are hungry. Our people are poor. Our people are insecure. Whoever wins, genuinely, from a free, fair and credible election, we all want to work together to save this country from collapse.”
Obi further called for a shift in political culture: “We declare here the social guarantee to assure you that we are changing the politics. We don’t want politics of quarrel, politics of disagreement. Let our quarrel be to feed our people. Let our quarrel be to pull our people out of poverty. We want a Nigeria where a child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody. That’s what we want. And all of us will work as a family. And I assure you that we remain united in our rescue for our dear country, Nigeria.”
Governor Bala Mohammed, speaking earlier, cautioned against underestimating the APM and its candidate. “Whoever disregards us is at his own peril, we are here to reset Nigeria and we are bringing in one of the best human capitals that Nigeria has ever produced at the sub-national and national level, that is Makinde,” he said.
Mohammed praised Makinde’s record in Oyo State, describing him as a resource manager and mobiliser who had driven urban renewal despite limited resources.
APM National Chairman Yusuf Mamman Dantalle described the office commissioning as the start of a journey to “reset Nigeria,” stressing competence, courage, compassion and accountability as core principles. The party’s ticket pairs Makinde with former Department of State Services Director-General Lawal Daura as running mate.
The appearance of Obi, himself a presidential contender under the NDC, at a rival opposition candidate’s campaign event has drawn attention amid ongoing discussions about possible coalitions or cooperation among opposition forces seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Earlier this year, opposition stakeholders held consultations, including meetings involving Obi and Makinde, focused on strategies for a better Nigeria.
Makinde formally declared his presidential ambition earlier in 2026 under an alliance involving the APM. Multiple candidates, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, are also in the race.
Obi’s remarks emphasised that the ultimate priority remains improving living conditions for Nigerians through credible elections and collective effort, regardless of which candidate ultimately prevails.
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