The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has promised to hold monthly town hall meetings with Nigerians, visit all 36 states annually and spend his holidays across the country’s six geopolitical zones if elected president in 2027.
Obi made the pledge on Sunday, October 11, 2026, during a TikTok livestream hosted by the Emir Sirdam Show, where he discussed his proposed approach to governance and the need for greater engagement between political leaders and citizens.
The former Anambra State governor said his proposed administration would prioritise national unity and ensure that every region of the country receives attention, regardless of ethnic or geographical differences.
Obi maintained that his ambition was to build a country where Nigerians from all six geopolitical zones could experience development and feel included in national governance.
He said he intended to remain accessible to citizens rather than govern from the presidential seat without regular contact with the people.
Obi Promises Monthly Town Hall Meetings
Explaining his proposed engagement strategy, Obi said he would organise monthly or bi-monthly town hall meetings to explain government policies, decisions and projects to Nigerians.
He said the meetings would provide an opportunity for citizens to understand why his administration took particular decisions while allowing them to ask questions and express their concerns.
The NDC candidate also cited his experience as governor of Anambra State as the basis for his proposed approach to public engagement.
According to him, Nigerians should not be left in the dark about government activities, particularly decisions that affect their daily lives and the use of public resources.
The proposal, if implemented, would create a regular platform for citizens to question the president directly about policy choices, government spending and the progress of development projects.
However, the effectiveness of such meetings would depend on whether citizens’ concerns lead to measurable action, rather than the meetings serving merely as platforms for presidential communication.
Annual Visits to All 36 States
Obi also pledged to visit every state in the federation annually, arguing that the president should maintain direct contact with Nigerians across the country.
He said he wanted to see all regions thrive, naming the South-West, South-South, South-East, North-East, North-West and North-Central as parts of Nigeria that deserved attention and development.
The former governor’s proposal places emphasis on a presidency that regularly engages communities instead of relying exclusively on reports from government officials and political intermediaries.
Annual visits could also give the president opportunities to assess infrastructure, healthcare, education, security and other development challenges in different parts of the country.
Nevertheless, the impact of such visits would ultimately depend on the policies, funding decisions and follow-up actions arising from them.
A presidential visit alone cannot resolve longstanding problems unless it is accompanied by concrete commitments and effective implementation.
Obi Wants to Spend Holidays Across Six Geopolitical Zones
The NDC candidate further promised to spend his holidays in different parts of Nigeria if elected president, instead of limiting his personal time to a particular region or travelling abroad.
The pledge forms part of his broader argument that national leadership should involve understanding the realities of citizens across different communities.
Obi said he wanted Nigerians to feel that the president was available to them and interested in understanding their challenges.
The proposal also echoes his earlier Independence Day declaration that he would spend his holidays visiting Nigerian states and interacting with citizens if elected in 2027.
2027 Presidency and the Question of Accountability
Obi’s latest promises come as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with candidates beginning to communicate their proposed approaches to leadership and governance.
His emphasis on town hall meetings and nationwide visits raises an important question about how presidential accountability can be strengthened in a country where citizens frequently demand greater transparency from public officials.
Regular engagement could help bridge the gap between the presidency and ordinary Nigerians, particularly if the meetings provide opportunities for critical questions and transparent explanations of government decisions.
However, Nigerians will also need to examine how such promises translate into practical governance, including economic management, job creation, security, infrastructure development and the effective use of public funds.
For the proposed town hall meetings to become meaningful instruments of accountability, they would need to go beyond speeches and include measurable commitments, public progress reports and clear responses to citizens’ complaints.
Similarly, annual visits to all 36 states would need to be supported by policies that address regional inequalities and ensure that development projects are distributed according to identified needs.
As the 2027 presidential contest approaches, Obi’s pledge presents voters with a proposed model of leadership centred on accessibility and regular communication.
Whether the promises would be implemented as outlined remains a question for voters to assess alongside the candidate’s other policy proposals and record in public office.
