The group lists the NDC presidential candidate’s proposals on electricity, production, security and healthcare, and demands a prominent right of reply.
The Big Tent Coalition for Obi/Kwankwaso has challenged a newspaper portrayal of Peter Obi as absent from the policy debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate has repeatedly offered alternatives on major national issues.
In a statement issued by its Director of Media and Communications, Charles Odibo, the coalition disputed an October 14, 2026 THISDAY report headlined “2027 Presidential Poll: Atiku Brings Tinubu into Policy Debate, Obi Missing.” It requested that the newspaper give its response visibility comparable to the original front-page story.
The group said Obi’s public interventions had addressed energy, industrial production, insecurity, healthcare and the cost of living. It maintained that he had spoken directly through interviews and other public engagements rather than relying only on political representatives. The coalition’s description of him as exceptionally accessible to the media was its own assessment, not an independently established ranking.
On power, the coalition identified increased electricity generation, improvements to transmission and distribution, decentralization where appropriate and private investment under effective oversight as central to Obi’s position. It argued that reliable electricity was essential to industrial development and productivity.
For the economy, the group described Obi’s preference for expanding production in agriculture, manufacturing and solid minerals, encouraging value addition and removing barriers faced by smaller businesses. The coalition said he favoured targeted support for productive sectors over an economic model driven principally by consumption and borrowing.
On security, the statement pointed to intelligence-led operations, technology, community engagement and stronger protection for farmers and rural livelihoods. It said people displaced by insecurity should be able to return to agricultural work safely. In healthcare, it highlighted primary health centers, preventive services and basic medical infrastructure as areas the candidate had prioritized.
The coalition also referred to Obi’s October 11 criticism of a temporary 30-day reduction in fuel prices at NNPC Retail outlets. According to the statement, Obi questioned the reach of a measure affecting approximately 900 outlets in a market the group estimated at about 24,000 stations. Those figures and the reported discount of less than five per cent were advanced by the coalition as part of its argument.
The group said Obi preferred more durable interventions in agriculture, health, education, infrastructure and other areas capable of reducing household costs and improving productivity. It contended that a short-lived fuel discount was not an adequate response to unemployment, poverty and wider economic difficulties.
Beyond defending Obi’s record, the coalition called on news organizations to evaluate all presidential contenders against their stated policies and public engagements. Its demand for equal prominence for the right of reply remained a request to the newspaper, rather than a decision already granted.
