Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 general election, Peter Obi, has promised to overhaul Nigeria’s healthcare system and make it compulsory for political office holders to seek medical treatment in the country if elected President.

Obi also pledged that he would spend his holidays within Nigeria, rather than travelling abroad, saying his administration would lead by example in promoting the development and patronage of the country’s institutions.

He made the declarations on Thursday evening in Asaba, Delta State, during the inauguration of the NDC secretariat in the state.

The former Anambra State governor, while lamenting the state of the nation’s healthcare system, said his administration would invest in making healthcare facilities functional and capable of providing quality services to Nigerians.

According to him, political leaders should not continue to patronise foreign hospitals while public healthcare facilities in Nigeria remain underdeveloped.

“We will ensure that those of them who are in power must seek medical care here. Anybody that will go abroad will be for referral,” Obi said.

He promised that his administration would “fix” the healthcare system and ensure that Nigerians have access to quality and affordable medical services within the country.

Obi also criticised what he described as the frequent absence of political leaders from Nigeria, particularly foreign travels by public office holders.

Referring to President Bola Tinubu’s foreign trip, Obi said: “Today, our President is in France. He went for three weeks and he has spent more than three weeks.

“He is in France and people are dying in Nigeria.” He added: “As President of Nigeria, all my holidays will be in Nigeria. I will go to Agbor for holiday; I will go to Warri for holidays, not France.”

The NDC candidate said the decision would be part of a broader effort to demonstrate confidence in Nigeria’s economy, institutions and local businesses.

Obi also placed the Niger Delta at the centre of his campaign message, promising a fundamental change in the way the region’s natural resources are managed and the benefits distributed.

He lamented what he described as the persistent neglect of the region despite its enormous contribution to Nigeria’s revenue through oil and gas production.

“One thing that I can assure you is that the days you don’t see the impact of your wealth is gone. Niger Delta must see the impact of the wealth it is creating for the nation,” he said.

According to him, the region’s contribution to the Nigerian economy should translate into visible infrastructure, improved social services, employment opportunities and better living conditions for its people.

Obi particularly decried the condition of the East-West Road and other federal roads across the oil-producing region, arguing that the situation was inconsistent with the economic importance of the Niger Delta.

“You cannot pass anywhere in the Niger Delta, yet they are producing the wealth the country share every month,” he said.

He promised that his administration would adopt greater transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, insisting that Nigerians would be informed about how government revenue was being spent.

“We will ensure that this will change and it will change by the way we manage the resources; it will change because we are going to be transparent. We will tell you where every penny is going to,” he said.

The NDC candidate’s remarks came against the backdrop of growing political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, with political parties and candidates intensifying efforts to consolidate support across the country.

In Delta State, Obi’s message focused heavily on the Niger Delta’s longstanding demands for improved infrastructure, greater economic opportunities and a more visible connection between the region’s resource contributions and public investment.

He also used the occasion to emphasise his proposed governance philosophy, centred on accountability, domestic capacity-building and improved public services.

The inauguration of the NDC secretariat in Asaba attracted party members, supporters and stakeholders, as the party begins preparations for the 2027 electoral contest in the state.