Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over what he described as Nigeria’s “politics of zero humanity,” warning that political leaders are prioritising the 2027 elections while thousands of citizens are being killed and abducted across the country.
In a strongly worded statement, Obi lamented that while politicians are “spending our energy scheming about how to capture, grab, and run the next election,” the first two months of 2026 alone have reportedly witnessed the killing of over 1,000 Nigerians and the abduction of several thousand others.
He described the situation as a “painful reality” for the nation, noting that communities in states such as Zamfara, Kwara, Ondo, Kebbi, Edo, Benue, Adamawa, Plateau, and others have been devastated by violence, fear, and displacement.
According to him, more than 25 states across all geopolitical zones have experienced major attacks, kidnappings, mass shootings, village invasions, and assaults on worshippers and travellers this year. He said the scale of bloodshed in just two months “is even worse than what we see in countries officially at war,” yet political discussions remain centred on zoning arrangements and campaign strategies.
“This is the tragedy of our politics,” Obi said. “We debate power sharing while citizens are sharing funeral programs.”
He recalled witnessing the burial of victims in Doruwa Babuje community in Plateau State, describing the scene as heartbreaking. “I watched in tears yesterday as families… buried their dead after attacks by armed terrorists, but our media and leaders were focused on discussions about party issues and the 2027 elections,” he stated.
Obi added that many politicians are busy planning for the future while citizens struggle to survive the present. “We strategise about 2027 while Nigerians struggle to survive 2026. This is inhumane,” he said.
Calling for a shift in national priorities, he urged leaders to place human life at the centre of governance. “We must elevate human life to a sacred status in our national priorities. Leadership is not about winning elections; it is about saving lives,” he stressed.
He further noted that history would judge leaders not by their political strategies, but by their response to human suffering. “History will not remember how many strategies we perfected for 2027; it will remember whether we acted when Nigerians were dying,” Obi said.
Concluding his statement, he appealed for unity and compassion in leadership, insisting that national development must be rooted in security and dignity for all citizens. “We must choose Nigerian lives over politics. We must put Nigerians first. A New Nigeria is Possible,” he declared.