The presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Esther Okereke, says she is not intimidated by the incumbent, President Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi or any ‘heavyweight’ candidates on the ballot for the 2027 presidential election.

Ms Okereke, during an interview in Abuja on Sunday, expressed confidence in her capacity and party’s vision to rebuild the country.

The female presidential candidate said political credibility rested on clear governance blueprints rather than party size or political longevity.

She said the NRM’s symbol, the bee, reflects the party’s core ideology of productivity, public service and national development.

“Yes, NRM, as you said, is small but mighty. You see our logo, the bee? It’s an insect that produces. Why the party chose that, the size of the party and then the bee, is because we’re here to produce and feed, not to devour and eat.

“It is not about the party. It is the individual; it’s the candidates that make the party. Who knew the Labour Party before Peter Obi?

“Even the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), even the All Progressives Congress (APC), is the candidate that made up the publicity that gave them that big name that you just mentioned. That is how I’m going to give that same big name to NRM,’’ she said.

Ms Okereke said a shared commitment to accountability, structural reform and effective service delivery drove her decision to run on the NRM platform.

She said NRM has established a robust organisational network across all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 774 local government areas and over 176,000 polling units nationwide to mobilise voters.

“Don’t forget I am a humanitarian in politics. So, we have our structure too. We have coordinators starting from the 176,974 units; we have structure. In all 8,808 plus Abuja wards, we have structure.

“So, it’s only a system, and we have that system. All we need to do is lift this system and take it to Aso Rock, so it spreads.

“All you need is your data, which we have. Our mode of communication is simple: disseminate information right now, in less than a minute, everyone has gotten it,’’ Ms Okereke said.

(NAN)