The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has emphasised the significance of the 2027 general election, saying it will pit Nigerians against bad leadership.

Obi made the remarks in Anambra State on Saturday, where he officially registered as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The former governor of Anambra State, who has vowed to challenge Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election, also urged Nigerians to participate in the party’s ongoing online registration exercise.

“With the agreement of all national leaders, some of whom are here where we are flagging off today, I am urging everybody to ensure that you register and obtain your card. Go online; we want to register as many Nigerians as possible.

“The election in 2027 will be Nigerians against bad leadership. I assure you that the election of 2027 will be Nigerians fighting for justice,” Obi said.

He stressed that the South-East geopolitical zone deserves the presidency, arguing that no region could claim to be more Nigerian than the South-East.

“Some people will say, ‘South-East wants this or that’. The South-East is part of Nigeria; the South-East wants to serve. No other zone can claim to be more Nigerian than the South-East because, everywhere you go in Nigeria, you will see someone from the South-East who has built a house and is living there.

“They did not go there for transactions alone; they live there and conduct their businesses there. And we in the South-East are saying we want a new Nigeria — a Nigeria where a child of nobody can succeed without knowing anybody,” he said.

The presidential hopeful also emphasised the need to lift Nigerians out of poverty, noting that doing so would help reduce insecurity across the country.

“A Nigeria where we must lift Nigerians out of poverty because insecurity today can be reduced if we pull people out of poverty. The more you pull people out of poverty, the more you reduce criminality,” he said.

Obi charged party faithful to embark on massive recruitment into the ADC.

“So, our exercise today is very simple: go and become fishers of men,” he added.

The senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Sen. Victor Umeh, and a former lawmaker and presidential aide, Mr. Ben Obi, also completed their registration with the ADC on Saturday.

Party leaders had earlier gathered in Awka to launch the registration exercise, urging members to return to their respective wards to enrol and mobilise new members.

Obi registered at Agulu Ward 2 in Anaocha Local Government Area. Umeh was registered by his ward chairman at Aguluzigbo Ward 1 in the same local government area, while Ben Obi registered in Agulu Awka, Awka South Local Government Area — all in Anambra State.