Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, and his running mate Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso held town hall meetings in Enugu, Imo and Bayelsa states as part of their nationwide engagement series ahead of the 2027 elections. Large numbers of supporters turned out in each location, with people lining streets and filling venues.
In Enugu the meeting took place on October 29 2026 at the Amadeo Event Centre. The event went ahead despite a last minute venue withdrawal. Party officials said the centre had been booked and paid for weeks earlier but the management pulled out less than 24 hours before the date. They accused the administration of Governor Peter Mbah of pressure and intimidation aimed at disrupting opposition activities. The governor later denied issuing any such order. Obi and Kwankwaso met the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria Enugu chapter before the main gathering and reaffirmed commitment to national unity, religious harmony and peaceful coexistence. At the town hall they spoke of uniting and securing the country, tackling corruption, investing heavily in health and education, and lifting people out of poverty. Supporters filled the streets and the venue. Obi also challenged the president to tour the country and account for borrowed funds and revenue before seeking another term.
From Enugu the campaign moved to Bayelsa State around October 30 and 31. Obi attended the grand homecoming of the party’s national leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, in his hometown of Toru Orua in Sagbama Local Government Area. He joined a traditional boat regatta and canoe displays on the waterways. In Yenagoa he addressed a town hall meeting and party supporters. He criticised the president for not spending even one night in Bayelsa after more than three years in office while spending over 260 days abroad. He pledged that under his leadership he would visit the state regularly to hear concerns directly. He also promised to upgrade ports in Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar, begin construction of the long delayed Ibaka seaport in Akwa Ibom, and establish a new port in Bayelsa to serve riverine communities and boost commercial activity across the Niger Delta. The visit included inauguration of the NDC secretariat and warm reception from large crowds.
On October 31 the team travelled from Yenagoa to Owerri in Imo State for another town hall. Upon arrival Obi visited a market and spoke with traders and residents whose experiences highlighted daily economic hardship. At the meeting he noted that the president had not spent a night in Imo State either, despite the same extensive foreign travel. He pointed to accumulated debts without matching improvements in living conditions, the country’s ranking among the hungriest nations with over 140 million people in multidimensional poverty, its status as one of the most terrorised countries, and roughly 18 million children out of school. He and Kwankwaso reaffirmed plans to secure and unite Nigeria, make massive investments in health and education, and lift millions out of poverty. They said they possess the experience, competence, capacity and commitment to turn the country around. During the interactive session questions arose about vote protection. Obi urged residents to come out in numbers, exercise their rights, and stay vigilant with their votes until results are declared. The gathering drew enthusiastic support.
Throughout the three states the candidates stressed that leadership means listening to ordinary people and responding to the impact of policies. The series forms part of broader mobilisation by the NDC ticket of Obi and Kwankwaso, with the slogan that a new Nigeria is possible and Nigeria will be OK. Party organisers and local supporters handled logistics in each location despite earlier reports of tension around opposition events in some states.
