Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has promised Nigerians that his campaign will not be based on ethnicity and religion.

In the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, Mr Obi mustered Christian leaders to ramp up a sectarian appeal to push him over the line, as a Peoples Gazette exclusive report on a leaked conversation revealed.

Mr Obi, 61, called Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel) on the eve of the election and implored him to pass messages to Christians across the South-West—and also to those in central states like Kwara, Kogi and Niger.

“Daddy, I need you to speak to your people in the South-West and Kwara, the Christians in the South-West and Kwara,” Mr Obi said in the audio obtained by The Gazette. “This is a religious war.”

“I believe that, I believe that, I believe that,” Mr Oyedepo said.

“Like I keep saying: if this works, you people will never regret the support,” Mr Obi said with candour, adding that Christians in places like Kogi, Kwara and Niger have been difficult to penetrate.

“We look forward to God’s intervention,” Mr Oyedepo said, promising to circulate more messages to Christians on Mr Obi’s behalf.

However, in his second bid to become the president of Africa’s most populous nation, Mr Obi, during a press conference in Onitsha, Anambra, on Friday, condemned such an approach and urged Nigerians to do the same as he kicked off his campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Nigerians must reject and disregard any campaigns driven by propaganda, ethnicity and religion,” the politician said.

Mr Obi, who said the forthcoming elections must be guarded by competence, capacity, character and compassion, added, “Our campaigns will focus on urgent concerns of Nigeria and not on ethnicity or religion.

“As my team and I travel across the country, we listen to Nigerians, understand their needs and concerns and assure them that we have the competence, character and compassion to lead and reset Nigeria for the benefit of all.”

The NDC chieftain stressed the need for leaders who will listen to the people’s yearnings, transform the country, and build growth that serves all.