Peter Obi Declares 2027 Presidency Run – “I Ain’t Here for VP!”

By: Abudu Olalekan

Peter Obi Confirms Candidacy, Says He’s Not Running to Be Vice President. No more guessing.

Peter Obi has made up his mind—and he’s not sugarcoating it.

On Sunday night, during a live X Spaces chat with his online supporters, the former Labour Party presidential candidate spilled the truth, raw and clear. He’s running for President again in 2027. Not vice president. Not anyone’s second option. President—full stop.

“I’m not going round the world learning about governance just to become someone’s vice president. No way,” Obi said, his voice calm but firm. “I’ve built things from nothing. I’ve governed. I know what to do.”

Honestly, no surprises there.

Peter Obi has always walked a very intentional path in Nigerian politics. From his days as governor of Anambra State to his surprising rise during the 2023 general elections, he’s never been one to just stand in the crowd. And now? He wants the big seat. Again.

His words didn’t leave any room for spin. “Peter Obi will be on the ballot in 2027,” he declared with full confidence. And then added something that sounded more personal than political: “I need your support. I need your prayers.”

It’s that mix of boldness and vulnerability that keeps people tuning in whenever he speaks.

In 2023, Obi reshaped the nation’s political terrain, especially among young people and city dwellers who had long grown tired of the two old giants—APC and PDP. Under the Labour Party, he captured hearts, sparked debates, and pushed the election into unpredictable territory.

He didn’t win though.

After the votes were counted—and recounted—President Bola Tinubu of the APC was declared the winner. Obi challenged it. Took it to the Election Tribunal and then to the Supreme Court. But nothing changed. Tinubu’s victory stood.

That didn’t break him.

Ever since that election, Obi’s been moving. Quiet sometimes. Loud other times. But always moving. And on Sunday night, he confirmed what many had suspected—he’s not done yet. There’s still fight in him.

“Everything I’ve done—the work, the travels, the conversations—it’s for leadership at the top,” Obi said. “I want to turn this country around.”

That’s not just campaign talk.

Obi’s public career started long before 2023. He was first elected governor of Anambra back in 2006, got impeached, re-instated, and then re-elected. By the time he left office in 2014, many tagged his time as governor as frugal but focused. He wasn’t flashy, but he got some things right—like reducing debt and increasing state savings.

Before politics, he built businesses. Ran banks. Sat on boards. Those experiences, he says, are part of why nobody else—not even the current President—has more hands-on leadership exposure than he does.

“I have more practical governance experience than any candidate,” he claimed, confidently. “Including the sitting president.”

That line sparked reactions. Maybe a few raised eyebrows. But it’s Obi’s way: say what you believe and stand by it.

The 2027 road is still a long one. Four years may seem like forever in politics. Alliances shift. Parties realign. New faces show up. But one thing’s clear—Peter Obi isn’t backing down.

Not for VP. Not for anyone.

“I know why I’m in this,” he said.

And now, so does everyone else.