Key Takeaways

• Peter Obi criticised President Bola Tinubu over his claim that the President had not spent a night in Imo State despite spending more than 260 days abroad.
• Obi made the remarks after his town hall meeting with residents of Imo State on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
• He visited a market in Owerri and interacted with traders, buyers and other residents.
• The NDC presidential candidate accused the Tinubu administration of accumulating enormous debts without delivering corresponding improvements in Nigerians’ living conditions.
• Obi raised concerns about hunger, multidimensional poverty, insecurity and out-of-school children, citing figures in his statement.
• He said he and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso were committed to national unity, security, healthcare, education and poverty reduction if elected.
• Obi urged supporters to participate in the 2027 elections and remain vigilant until the final results were declared.
• He thanked residents, party members, candidates and organisers for their support during the Imo State engagement.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his alleged failure to spend a night in Imo State, despite reportedly spending more than 260 days abroad.

Obi also accused the Tinubu administration of accumulating enormous debts without delivering corresponding improvements in the living conditions of Nigerians.

The former Anambra State governor made the remarks in a statement on Sunday, following his town hall meeting with residents of Imo State on Saturday, October 31, 2026.

During the engagement in Owerri, Obi visited a local market and interacted with traders, buyers and other residents, saying their experiences reflected the economic difficulties facing ordinary Nigerians.

Peter Obi Explains His Visit to Imo State

Obi said his engagement with residents was part of an ongoing town hall meeting series organised to interact with Nigerians and hear their concerns.

According to him, the team travelled from Yenagoa to Owerri, where he began his activities with a visit to one of the markets in the state capital.

Describing the journey and the purpose of the engagement, Obi wrote:

Our conversations and engagement with the people continued yesterday, 31st October 2026, as we journeyed from Yenagoa to Owerri, Imo State, for another edition of our ongoing town hall meeting series.

He explained that the market visit allowed him to interact directly with traders, buyers and other residents about their experiences.

Obi said the conversations reminded him of the difficulties many Nigerians were facing under the current administration’s economic policies.

He stated:

Upon arrival, I began with a visit to one of the markets in Owerri, where I interacted with traders, buyers and other residents. Their stories and experiences offered yet another sobering reminder of how difficult life has become for ordinary Nigerians under the harsh economic policies of this administration.

Obi Criticises Tinubu Over Alleged Absence From Imo State

During his remarks at the town hall meeting, Obi questioned President Tinubu’s alleged lack of an overnight visit to Imo State since assuming office.

He contrasted the President’s reported overseas trips with what he described as his failure to spend even one night in the southeastern state.

According to Obi, the President’s alleged absence was particularly concerning given the challenges confronting residents and communities across the country.

He said:

In my remarks at the town hall meeting, I reminded the good people of Imo State that, after more than three years in office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not considered it necessary to spend even one night in Imo State, despite spending over 260 days abroad.

Obi also criticised the administration’s borrowing and its impact on the lives of Nigerians.

He argued that the country’s economic and social challenges had not improved sufficiently despite the debts accumulated under the current government.

The NDC presidential candidate further raised concerns about hunger, multidimensional poverty, insecurity and the number of children who are out of school.

Presenting the figures and assessments in his statement, Obi wrote:

Meanwhile, his administration has accumulated enormous debts without delivering commensurate improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Our country is now ranked among the hungriest nations in the world, with over 140 million people living in multidimensional poverty. To compound this crisis, Nigeria remains one of the most terrorised countries in the world, while approximately 18 million children are out of school.

The figures and descriptions above were contained in Obi’s statement and should be understood as claims he presented in criticising the Tinubu administration.

Peter Obi Outlines His Plans With Kwankwaso Ahead of 2027 Elections

Despite his criticism of the current administration, Obi urged Nigerians not to lose hope, saying he and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso were committed to addressing the country’s major challenges if elected.

He listed national security, unity, healthcare, education and poverty reduction among the areas they intended to prioritise.

Obi said their proposed leadership would focus on improving critical sectors and lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

Reassuring residents of Imo State, he wrote:

I reassured the people of Imo State that all hope is not lost. Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and I are committed to securing and uniting our country, making massive investments in critical sectors such as health and education, and lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

The NDC candidate also expressed confidence in the experience and capacity he and Kwankwaso would bring to the task of governing the country.

He maintained that they possessed the commitment and readiness required to address Nigeria’s challenges.

Obi stated:

Among the leading contenders, we believe we possess the experience, competence, capacity, commitment and readiness required to undertake the difficult but necessary task of turning Nigeria around.

These remarks formed part of the pair’s political message ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Obi Urges Supporters to Protect Their Votes in 2027

During the interactive session, Obi said residents also raised questions about the protection of their votes during the forthcoming elections.

He encouraged supporters to participate in the electoral process and remain vigilant until the final results were announced.

According to him, exercising democratic rights should be accompanied by active participation in safeguarding the votes cast.

He said:

During the interactive session, questions were also raised about the protection of our votes. I encouraged our people to come out in their numbers, exercise their democratic rights and, more importantly, remain vigilant and stay with their votes until the final results are declared.

Obi also expressed appreciation to supporters, party members, candidates, organisers and residents who participated in the Imo State engagement.

He thanked them for their reception and support during the visit.

In his statement, he wrote:

I sincerely thank our teeming supporters, party candidates, party members, organisers and, most importantly, the good people of Imo State for their warmth, enthusiasm and overwhelming support.

Obi Says Building a New Nigeria Is a Collective Responsibility

Concluding his message, Obi described the effort to build a better Nigeria as a responsibility that requires the participation of citizens across the country.

He urged Nigerians to remain committed to the vision of a country that works for everyone.

He wrote:

The journey to a new Nigeria is a collective responsibility. Together, we can build a country that works for everyone.

The NDC presidential candidate ended his statement with a message of optimism about the country’s future.

He concluded:

A New Nigeria is POssible, and Nigeria will be OK!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What did Peter Obi say about Tinubu and Imo State?

Peter Obi claimed that President Bola Tinubu had not considered it necessary to spend one night in Imo State despite spending more than 260 days abroad.

2. When did Peter Obi make the statement about Tinubu?

Obi made the remarks in a statement on Sunday, following his town hall meeting with residents of Imo State on Saturday, October 31, 2026.

3. Where did Peter Obi hold his town hall meeting in Imo State?

The town hall meeting took place in Owerri, the capital of Imo State. Obi also visited a local market during the engagement.

4. What did Peter Obi say about the Tinubu administration’s debts?

Obi accused the Tinubu administration of accumulating enormous debts without delivering corresponding improvements in the lives of Nigerians.

5. What poverty and education figures did Peter Obi mention?

In his statement, Obi cited more than 140 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty and approximately 18 million children being out of school. These figures were presented as part of his criticism of the administration.

6. What did Peter Obi promise Nigerians ahead of the 2027 elections?

Obi said he and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso were committed to securing and uniting the country, investing in healthcare and education, and lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty if elected.

7. What did Peter Obi say about protecting votes in 2027?

He encouraged Nigerians to come out and exercise their democratic rights, while remaining vigilant and staying with their votes until the final results were declared.

8. What was Peter Obi’s closing message to Nigerians?

Obi described building a new Nigeria as a collective responsibility and ended his statement with the message: “A New Nigeria is POssible, and Nigeria will be OK!”

Final Editorial Wrap-Up

Peter Obi’s visit to Imo State provided an opportunity for him to criticise the Tinubu administration over what he described as shortcomings in governance, economic management, security and public welfare.

His remarks also highlighted the political message he and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso are presenting ahead of the 2027 elections, including their stated commitment to national unity, investment in critical sectors and poverty reduction.

While Obi’s comments reflect his assessment of the current administration and his own political promises, the claims and figures he presented remain attributable to him. His criticism adds to the political debate surrounding governance and the choices Nigerians will face in the 2027 general elections.