Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has criticised politicians and the media for focusing on the 2027 elections while insecurity worsens across the country.
In a post on X on Sunday, Obi said more than 1,000 Nigerians were killed in the first two months of 2026. He added that armed groups abducted several thousand others within the same period.
The former Anambra state governor described the trend as disturbing.
According to him, political actors have shifted attention to power calculations instead of confronting the security crisis.
“It is profoundly disturbing that while we, the politicians, continue to obsess over the 2027 elections, the first two months of 2026 have reportedly seen the killing of over 1,000 Nigerians,” he wrote.
Attacks Spread Across States
Furthermore, Obi said violent attacks have occurred in over 25 states across all geopolitical zones this year. He listed Zamfara, Kwara, Ondo, Kebbi, Edo, Benue, Adamawa and Plateau among the affected states.
Gunmen, he said, have carried out mass shootings, kidnappings and village invasions. As a result, families have buried loved ones and many communities have fled their homes.
Obi said he watched in tears the Doruwa Babuje community in Plateau State, where residents recently buried victims of an attack by armed men.
He noted that public discourse has remained centred on zoning arrangements, party structures and campaign strategies for 2027.
“We debate power sharing while citizens are sharing funeral programmes,” he said.
Call to Prioritise Human Lives
Consequently, Obi urged leaders to elevate human life in national priorities. He said leadership must focus on saving lives rather than winning elections.
“History will not remember how many strategies we perfected for 2027; it will remember whether we acted when Nigerians were dying,” he added.
He called on political leaders to put Nigerians first and address the rising bloodshed across the country.
