Abuja, Nigeria, October 24, 2018: Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party,
Mr. Peter Obi on Wednesday in Abuja met with delegations from European Union (EU) and
World Economic Forum (WEF) to discuss the need to conduct free and fair elections in 2019 and
how to grow the nation’s economy through collaboration.
Obi who represented the Presidential candidate of the party and former Vice President of
Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar at the two separate meetings told the EU delegation that efforts should
be made to stop the ruling party, APC, from intimidating candidates of opposition political
parties who, he said, now live in fear.
*Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi (Middle) flanked by the Head of European Union delegation, Mr. Ketil Karlsen (R); Nicolay Paus, Policy Officer, Democracy and Electoral Observation of EU (immediate Left) and Mr. Osaron Odemwinge Liaison Officer during the meeting of EU delegation with Obi on Wednesday
He said that the EU should insist on a level playing field for all candidates and parties during
elections in Nigeria because “there is a need to get the country back to its feet and make it better
for our children’’.
He said that campaigns should be based on issues so that the electorate and the international
community can come to grasp with the problems of the country as well as the solutions being
proffered by each of the political parties and their candidates.
Obi also said that there was need for agencies like the EU to strengthen and support the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The former Anambra Governor said that judging from what happened during gubernatorial
elections in Ekiti and Osun states, INEC needs to show that it remains an unbiased umpire in
future elections in the country.
On the issue of vote buying, Obi described the incidence as a new phenomenon and which must
be stopped.
“I contested and won elections when I was in a smaller party. Where would I have gotten the
money to buy votes if it was the case then and how would I have gotten back the money
especially when I am going to serve the people,’’ he said.
On the unity of PDP, he said there was no doubt about that and the evidence could be seen from
the outcome of the free and fair presidential primary election conducted in Port-Harcourt, Rivers
State on October 13, 2018 where all the presidential candidates agreed that it was the best so far.
On whether there was need for a fresh EU election observer group following the impending
expiration of the tenure of the present group, Obi said that Nigeria deserved a replacement based
on the role EU would play in ensuring free and fair elections in Nigeria in 2019
In his comments, the head of the EU delegation, Ketil Karlsen said that the election observer
group has been consulting stakeholders in Nigeria to ascertain whether or not it would be
necessary for the union to send a new EU election observer mission.
He said that the EU mission had been operating in Nigeria since 1999 and that the union had
invested over 100 million Euros in Nigeria’s election process since then
Speaking at the meeting with officials of WEF, Obi emphasized the need for closer working
relationship with African countries especially Nigeria because most governments in the continent
do not want to work with the forum for fear of being criticized.
He said that many governments in Africa implement activities that are “transactional instead of
transformational’’ and therefore needed help to shape their policies.
“A lot of work needs to be done in Africa because things are tough, he said, adding that
Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of the PDP “have a clear picture of what the
economic priorities are and what the international community feels about the country.
“Nigeria needs to do something immediately for its economy to be put back on track and
something has to done immediately’’, he said.
Leader of the WEF delegation, Nontle Kabanyane said that the forum was ready to strengthen
relationships and to implement more activities in Nigeria through a collaboration that would lead
