Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi says his campaign will intensify engagement with young Nigerians in the final 150 days before the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
Obi said the campaign would reach youths through town halls, campuses, online platforms and football communities.
In a message titled Beyond Football: The Match for a Better Nigeria, the former Anambra State governor used the popularity of European football to argue that young Nigerians should devote similar energy to the country’s democratic process.
He said the quality of football in countries such as England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy reflected wider systems built around infrastructure, security, merit, investment and accountable institutions.
According to Obi, Nigerian footballers had repeatedly demonstrated world class talent abroad, suggesting that the country’s major constraint was not a lack of ability but an environment that failed to support talent consistently.
He argued that a strong football industry depended on functioning stadiums, academies, transport systems, healthcare, reliable electricity and effective institutions.
Obi said Nigeria could develop a more competitive domestic league and create better opportunities for young athletes if governance improved.
He urged young Nigerians to regard the 2027 election as an opportunity to shape policies affecting employment, education, security, sports development and national renewal.
The NDC candidate encouraged supporters to participate peacefully in the electoral process, mobilize others, vote and protect the integrity of their ballots within the law.
Obi framed youth political participation as central to his campaign, arguing that the same passion with which millions follow international football could be channelled into civic engagement.
He said his campaign would continue returning to the message that stronger governance was necessary for Nigeria to create the systems required for talent, enterprise and sports to flourish.
