By Annette Ikponmwonba | October 19, 2026
Category
Politics
Key Points
· NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi says he is not a saint but achieved what no other governor in Nigeria has done while in office
· He spoke at a town hall meeting with his supporters in the United Kingdom
· He urged Nigerians to vote for a candidate with a proven record of productivity
· He advised diaspora Nigerians to tell relatives at home who beg them for money not to back the wrong candidates
· Obi pointed to the savings he left behind as governor of Anambra State as evidence of his record
· He reiterated his call for a New Nigeria built on fighting corruption and electing competent leaders
Main Story
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has said that although he is not a saint, he achieved what no other governor in the country has done during his time in office. He made the remarks at a town hall meeting with his supporters in the United Kingdom.
The former Anambra State governor urged Nigerians to vote for a candidate with a proven record of productivity, as he lamented the rising hardship in the country. He also advised Nigerians in the diaspora to discourage relatives at home who depend on them for financial support from backing the wrong candidates. “You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no! Let’s put somebody who has proven to be productive,” he said.
Obi, who prides himself on leaving savings behind as governor, said Nigeria could begin its journey to change by electing less corrupt leaders. “I’m not saying I’m a saint, but I saved money. No governor has done it. Let’s start with this one that is less corrupt. That’s how other countries change,” he said.
The Issues
Obi’s pitch rests on his fiscal record in Anambra, which he has made the centrepiece of his political brand. His claim that no other governor has saved money is a bold one, and it has recently been tested by the dispute with the Anambra State Government over debts allegedly left behind by his administration.
His comments to the diaspora are also notable. Encouraging Nigerians abroad to refuse requests for money tied to political support is a direct attempt to counter vote-buying and patronage, though it asks people to push back on relatives who may be struggling with real hardship, The phrase “less corrupt” is a modest standard compared with the language of a saint, and it may appeal to voters tired of grand promises, even as critics could argue it sets the bar low.
What’s Being Said
Obi framed his candidacy around character and competence. “Enough of all this. We need to achieve our collective purpose of building a New Nigeria that works for all, which is centred on tackling corruption and electing competent leaders with capacity, character, compassion and commitment to unite, secure, and move the nation from consumption to production,” he said, He argued that change begins with choosing the least corrupt option available, pointing to how other countries have transformed over time.
What’s Next
Obi is expected to continue engaging supporters, including in the diaspora, as the 2027 campaign builds. His savings claim will likely stay under scrutiny from rivals and from the Anambra State Government, Attention will also turn to whether his message to diaspora Nigerians translates into organised support and fundraising ahead of the election.
Bottom Line
Obi is selling himself as an imperfect but proven candidate, leaning on his record of saving public funds and a call for productivity over patronage, a message aimed squarely at voters weary of hardship and corruption.
