By EMMANUEL OLONIRUHA

Igbo Agenda Dialogue (IAD), a socio-political organisation of Igbo people in Nigeria and the diaspora, has endorsed Peter Obi of Nigeria Democratic Party (NDC) as it is presidential candidate in the 2027 general election.

National Chairman of IAD, Chief Chekwas Okorie, said this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

Okorie said that in the build up to the 2027 presidential election, the group had painstakingly appraised all the frontline presidential candidates presented by the various political parties for the election.

“We considered their track records in the previous political leadership positions they held, their empathy and passion for the people of Nigeria.

“We also considered their physical fitness to rise to the onerous challenges of presiding over the country as large and heterogeneous as Nigeria.

“We considered their probity and prudence in the management of public resources and with the outcome of this appraisal exercise.

“We consulted widely and extensively with all the extant groups on areas mentioned above, he said.

He said the group resolved that it would be in the best interest of the country to elect Obi of as the president of Nigeria on Jan. 16.

Okorie further said apart from being the most visible candidate, Obi has the popular support of the majority of Nigerians across all ethnic and religious divides in the country.

He urged eligible Igbo voters across the country to come out in millions to complement other Nigerians in supporting the Obi-Kwankwaso presidential ticket.

The IAD chairman urged other politicians and political parties to adhere to issue-based campaigns, avoiding divisive tactics as the 2027 elections approach.

He pledged that the group would escalate its campaign efforts through its various networks to ensure a victory for Obi.

“We advise other Igbo politicians who are in other political parties who also have the right to campaign for the presidential candidates of their choice to limit their campaigns to issues while canvassing for votes for their preferred candidates,” he said.

He described Igbo people as peace loving citizens whom from time immemorial had shown support and collaboration to candidates from other parts of the country and ethnic groups.

On the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress by Gov. Charles Soludo of Anambra, Okorie said the decision of whom to vote for rested with the people.

“Let us see if he will be able to deliver up to 10 per cent for Tinubu in the election in Anambra,” said and advised Soludo to learn from the just concluded election in Osun.

On the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, who also pledged to deliver the FCT and Rivers to Tinubu, Okorie recalled that Obi won FCT in 2023 in spite of being the government seat of power.

He said that political consciousness among FCT resident was even higher now than in 2023. (NAN)