Obi Vows to Spend Presidential Holidays in Nigeria If Elected

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has pledged not to spend his holidays outside Nigeria if elected President in the 2027 general elections.

Obi made the pledge in his Independence Day address delivered in Abuja on Thursday, October 1, 2026.

He said he would use his four-year tenure to travel across the country, interact directly with Nigerians and gain a better understanding of the challenges facing different communities.

“As I have always done, I will lead by example. In four years as President of this great nation, I will not spend my holidays outside Nigeria,” Obi said.

He listed Zamfara, Borno, Kwara, Ebonyi and Ekiti among the states he intended to visit during his holidays, adding that he wanted to continue seeing Nigeria, knowing its people, listening to their concerns and celebrating their resilience.

Obi also promised that his administration would make governance measurable and accountable, with emphasis on the welfare and productivity of Nigerians.

He said that within his first year in office, Nigerians would begin to see tangible results from what he described as purposeful and effective leadership.

On insecurity, the former Anambra State governor pledged to take decisive action to enable farmers to return to their farms, children to return to school and businesses to operate without fear.

“No Nigerian should be forced to live in an IDP camp because his or her government has failed to provide security,” he said.

Obi also criticised the APC-led Federal Government, arguing that Nigeria continued to face serious challenges despite promises made in 2023.

According to him, the country is battling widespread poverty, a large number of out-of-school children, terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

He maintained that Nigeria’s major problem was not a lack of resources but the failure of successive governments to translate the country’s resources into human development, productivity, security and shared prosperity.

Obi also referred to his recent visit to Sokoto State with his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, where they held consultations on insecurity, poverty, unemployment, drug abuse and the growing number of out-of-school children.

He said their visit to an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Ramin Kura, within Sokoto metropolis, exposed the difficult conditions faced by displaced women and children.

The presidential candidate said the situation in Ramin Kura was a reflection of the hardship experienced in several parts of the country.

Obi had previously criticised the practice of Nigerian presidents spending their holidays abroad. He argued that the President should remain in Nigeria during vacation periods and use the opportunity to visit communities facing security and developmental challenges.

He said that if elected, he would visit states affected by insecurity, including Zamfara and Borno, rather than spending presidential holidays abroad.

When asked about the security implications of visiting states affected by insurgency and banditry, particularly Borno, Obi maintained that security concerns should not be used as a reason for the President to leave the country during holidays.

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