Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections has urged Nigerians to banish religious or ethnic considerations in choosing the next Nigerian leader, urging them to vote people with “conscience and trust.”

“Put all of us on a scale; let’s know who we are; let’s ask questions who we are; let’s verify who we are. Don’t say: ‘Because Peter Obi is from the South-East, I will vote for him’,” he challenged. “Do not vote for me because I’m an Igbo man. Don’t vote for anybody because he is from the West. Do not vote for anybody because he’s from the North.” 

Mr Obi stressed: “This is time to vote for a human being who has conscience and trust.”

The presidential candidate said this at the National Convention of the Assemblies of God Nigeria at Okpoto, Ebonyi State, on Wednesday. 

Mr Obi, a former governor from Nigeria’s South-East, has been trying to rev up support for his relatively weak party. He is popular among young people who see him as a refreshing departure from established politicians in the two main political parties; the APC and PDP.

He carries a toga of frugality in spending personal and state resources from his days as Anambra governor but critics say such stance will not fly in the country’s electioneering process that has become heavily monetised.