MY ADDRESS TO MARK THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE 2027 PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGNS
21 August 2026
Dear Compatriots,
Members of the Press,
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
Wednesday, 19 August 2026, marked the official start of the campaign period for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
There is no doubt that this is a defining moment for our democracy. This moment gives Nigerians the opportunity to assess the records, ideas, and plans of those seeking their mandate to lead their country at a time of grave uncertainty in our rapidly changing world.
I consider myself quite privileged to be one of those seeking your mandate to deal with these challenges facing our country.
I enter this contest with one firm conviction: Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work.
Nigeria faces several serious challenges. Some of them are indeed of existential proportions.
According to the IMF, 63%, or over 140 million Nigerians, live at or below the national poverty line, while humanitarian agencies estimate that 35 million people will need food assistance during the 2026 lean season. About 3.6 million Nigerians remain internally displaced, largely because of conflict and insecurity. Each year, millions of young people enter the labour market, yet too many struggle to find productive opportunities. Weak infrastructure, unreliable power, insecurity, and the excessive cost of doing business continue to burden households and constrain enterprise.
These are more than statistics. They reflect the daily realities of Nigerian families, farmers, workers, students, and businesses.
Yet I do not believe Nigeria lacks the ability to overcome these challenges. We have the people, resources, market, talent, and enterprise. What we must do now is turn these strengths into security, productivity, and shared prosperity.
LEADERSHIP MUST DELIVER RESULTS
My successful private-sector experience, studies in institutions of repute on policy and business matters, and my service as Governor of Anambra State have shaped my understanding of public leadership. Government must manage resources responsibly, set clear priorities, and measure the outcomes of its decisions. Public office is not a reward; it is a responsibility to the people.
In Anambra, I prioritised the foundations of long-term development: education, healthcare, infrastructure, fiscal discipline, and institutional capacity. I do not present that record as perfect, but as an experience from which Nigerians can draw their own conclusions.
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso brings a different but complementary governing experience.
As Governor of Kano State, he focused strongly on education, technical training, scholarships, infrastructure, and human-capital development. His administration’s investments in education and skills showed an understanding that the people are a state’s most important long-term resource.
Our experiences are different, but our conclusion is the same: Nigeria must invest in its people and manage public resources with discipline.
BUILDING AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS
Nigeria needs more than reactive reforms. We must focus on the questions that matter:
Are Nigerians better off than they were four years ago? Can they afford food, education, and healthcare? Can businesses produce, expand, and create jobs? Can young people find productive work? Can farmers work safely and get their produce to market?
THE D DAY IS HERE!!! 🥳🥳🥳🎉🎂🔥❤️
Today, we celebrate a father, a priest, a pathfinder, a visionary leader, a burning and shining light, a beacon of hope, a lover of people, and above all, a man whose unwavering YES to God continues to impact lives and awaken generations across the world.
DEAREST PAPA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 🎂❤️🔥
We thank God for your life, your obedience, your sacrifices, and the grace to carry such a weighty mandate. Thank you for giving yourself to God and to His people. Thank you for the prayers, the tears, the sacrifices, the love, and the countless ways you continually pour yourself out.
As you step into this new year, may the Lord continually renew your strength, enlarge your influence, multiply your impact, and cause generations yet unborn to encounter Jesus because you said YES.😭😭😭🙏🏻
As a church and a people… WE LOVE YOU, PAPA! ❤️❤️❤️
Today, the world joins us to celebrate THE MAN. THE MESSAGE. THE MANDATE… HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OUR PAPA, PASTOR @RealJerryEze !!! 🥳🎂🔥❤️
#WeLovePastorJerry
#PastorJerrysBirthday
#TheManTheMessageTheMandate
#StreamsOfJoyInternational
#whatGodcannotdodoesnotexist
@RealJerryEze Happy birthday to you papa... EL-ROI's general, one who is touched with our feelings inside. God's anointed. I join the host of angels to celebrate you sir. May the oil of God upon your life never runs dry. Age gracefully.
@GOtvNg for the past one week now my viewing channels has reduced. How can I pay 16,800 for supa + just to not watch my favourite channels. I'm only having 53 channels in total.
@melvinalove24@GOtvNg My dear don't bother ur self this people have no solution after several chats with them the only solution they came up with is u can continue viewing ur channels through browser.... U go reset automatic rescan yet nothing