Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has cautioned political leaders against focusing on the 2027 general elections while violence continues to claim lives across the country.
In a statement posted on his official X handle on Friday, Obi decried what he described as the alarming scale of insecurity in Nigeria.
He noted that within the first two months of 2026 alone, more than 1,000 Nigerians had reportedly been killed, while several thousands were abducted in violent attacks across different states.
“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,” he wrote.
Obi described the situation as worse than conditions in some countries officially at war, lamenting the contrast between ongoing political calculations and the urgent need to address insecurity.
He criticised political actors for prioritising party alignments, zoning arrangements and campaign strategies ahead of the 2027 elections instead of focusing on the protection of lives.
“We strategise about 2027 while Nigerians struggle to survive 2026. This is inhumane,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor called for a shift in national priorities, urging leaders to place the safety and welfare of citizens above political interests.
“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.
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