Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to prioritise national security and ensure the return of internally displaced Nigerians to their communities if elected president in 2027.
Obi declared that his administration would have failed if Nigerians were still living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps after 18 months in office.
He made the declaration on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, during a town hall meeting in Jos, Plateau State, where he outlined his priorities ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The former Anambra State governor identified national unity and security as major priorities, expressing concern that Nigeria remained divided along ethnic and religious lines.
“Our number one commitment is to unite the Federal Republic of Nigeria because today we have no unity. We are divided along tribal and religious lines. That should not be. We are Nigerians,” he said.
On security, Obi said protecting lives and property would be a central responsibility of his proposed administration, particularly in states such as Plateau and Benue, where communities have suffered repeated attacks and displacement.
He assured Nigerians that his government would take decisive steps to prevent killings, kidnappings and other violent crimes.
“I assure you that no mother will cry again for her children. I assure you that no woman will feel the pain of losing a husband, neither will the father feel the pain of losing a wife,” he stated.
Addressing the prolonged displacement of families affected by insecurity, Obi said his administration would work towards restoring peace in affected communities and facilitating the safe return of displaced residents to their ancestral homes.
He said, “I have said it, and I will repeat it that after one year to 18 months in office, if any Nigerian remains in an IDP camp, we have failed.”
The NDC candidate also referred to his visits to Bokkos, Mangu and Barkin Ladi in Plateau State, saying his encounters with affected communities had exposed him to the difficulties faced by residents displaced by violence.
He maintained that the experiences of victims of insecurity should guide government policies and decisions.
Obi further pledged that an administration led by him and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, would intensify efforts against kidnappers and criminal groups.
“With Kwankwaso and I as the president and vice president of this country, nobody will kidnap school children and go into the bush,” he said.
The former governor’s remarks form part of his wider 2027 campaign agenda, which he said would focus on national unity, security, economic recovery and accountable leadership.
During an earlier courtesy visit to the Plateau State Traditional Council in Jos, Obi also argued that Nigeria could not achieve meaningful development while citizens continued to live in fear.
Responding to his visit, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, urged politicians and Nigerians to ensure that political activities did not worsen existing security challenges.
The traditional ruler called for peaceful political engagement, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among communities.
Obi’s pledge places the return of displaced persons and the restoration of security at the centre of his campaign promises ahead of the 2027 general election.
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