Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to prioritise the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their ancestral communities, saying no Nigerian should be forced to abandon their home because of insecurity.
Obi made the pledge on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, during a town hall meeting with residents and supporters at Crispan Hotel, Jos, Plateau State, where he outlined his priorities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former Anambra State governor, who recalled his visits to violence-affected communities in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Mangu, described the security situation in Plateau as unacceptable.
He said the continued displacement of families reflected the failure of government to protect lives and property, insisting that restoring security and enabling affected residents to return home would be a priority under his proposed administration.
“If any Nigerian remains in an IDP camp, we have failed. Once one Nigerian is in an IDP camp, the entire Nigeria is in an IDP camp. People must return to their homes,” he said.
Obi also pledged to strengthen the country’s security architecture and ensure that kidnappers and other criminal elements were pursued and brought to justice.
He said Nigerians should be able to carry out their daily activities without fear of attacks, kidnapping and other forms of violence.
On the economy, the NDC candidate advocated a shift from consumption to production, arguing that increased local production would create employment, strengthen businesses and reduce poverty.
He expressed concern that insecurity had prevented farmers from accessing their farmlands and contributed to the collapse of businesses, including companies operating in Plateau State.
“Our determination is to unite Nigeria, secure Nigeria and pull people out of poverty. That is why we said we are going to move Nigeria from consumption to production,” he said.
He added that improving security would enable farmers to return to their farms, stimulate economic activities and create opportunities for young people.
On support for small and medium-sized enterprises, Obi promised to improve access to funding, saying businesses required affordable credit to expand their operations and generate employment.
He also called for greater accountability in the management of public resources, insisting that government funds must be used for the benefit of citizens.
On education, the presidential candidate expressed concern over the estimated 18 million children out of school in Nigeria, promising to construct additional classrooms, recruit teachers and improve public schools.
He further pledged increased investment in primary healthcare centres, saying communities needed functional medical facilities to improve access to quality healthcare and reduce preventable deaths.
Addressing the 2027 general elections, Obi urged Nigerians to take responsibility for protecting their votes by remaining at polling units after voting to monitor the counting, recording and transmission of results.
He said credible elections were necessary to ensure that the wishes of the electorate were respected.
Obi explained that his town hall engagements were designed to enable political leaders to listen to citizens, understand their challenges and develop policies that respond to their needs.
He maintained that leadership should be driven by accountability, compassion and a commitment to improving the living conditions of Nigerians.
