Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has ruled out promising Nigerians uninterrupted, round-the-clock electricity within a single term, insisting that such a pledge would be dishonest.

Obi made the remarks during a lengthy interview on a national television programme, where he laid out his governance plans ahead of the 2027 election. He told the host that reliable power supply would rank high on his priority list, but he refused to guarantee an outcome he considers unachievable in four years.

He said fixing Nigeria’s power sector requires steady, long-term investment across generation, transmission, and distribution, not a quick political promise. Rather than pledge instant results, Obi said he would replicate proven independent power models in different regions and pull in more private investors to expand the grid.

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The former Anambra State governor has repeatedly separated himself from rivals who he says overpromise on power. He recently defended his own electricity pledge, telling Nigerians his administration would generate, transmit, and distribute “at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity” within four years, up from the roughly 4,000MW the country currently manages for a population exceeding 200 million.

Pressed by broadcaster Rufai Oseni to explain exactly how he would hit that number, Obi declined to spell out the mechanics. He said “it is not for you to know how,” arguing that voters should judge him on his record in office rather than demand a technical roadmap in advance.

Obi backed that stance by pointing to other countries that expanded power output sharply over the past decade. He noted that Indonesia added roughly 70,000 megawatts and India added around 171,000 megawatts between 2015 and 2025, while Egypt added about 28,000 megawatts in a similar window, and argued Nigeria has fallen far behind by comparison.

He also took aim at the Tinubu administration’s power sector record, claiming no new government-owned power plant has been commissioned since 2015. Referring to earlier campaign commitments made by his rivals, Obi said, “Somebody just said, if I don’t give you power, don’t vote for me. He didn’t even add one megawatt.”

That jab appears aimed at President Bola Tinubu, whose administration has pushed back hard against Obi’s characterization of the 2023 campaign trail promises. Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga rejected claims that Tinubu ever guaranteed 24-hour electricity for all Nigerians, calling the accusation a distortion. Onanuga insisted Tinubu’s actual 2023 pledge focused narrowly on ending estimated billing, not universal round-the-clock supply, and accused Obi of repeating a mischaracterized version of the president’s words.

Electricity has become one of the sharpest points of contention between Obi and the presidency in recent months, alongside insecurity and the state of the economy. Obi recently called on Tinubu to resign over what he described as failures on those fronts, drawing a sharp rebuke from the presidency, which dismissed the call as a distraction ahead of the 2027 vote.

Beyond electricity, Obi used the television interview to outline a broader platform built around production-led economic growth, a leaner and less costly government, and a more visible personal role in tackling insecurity. He said he would personally coordinate the national security response and visit affected communities directly rather than manage the crisis from a distance.

Obi again pledged to serve only a single four-year term if elected, arguing that timeframe would be enough to set Nigeria on a sustainable path. He also renewed calls for Tinubu to guarantee a free and credible 2027 election, saying history would judge the president well if Nigerians are allowed to choose their next leader without interference.

With the 2027 race still more than a year away, Obi’s remarks signal that power supply, alongside security and the economy, will remain a central battleground issue as candidates sharpen their platforms and challenge each other’s records in office.

Keyphrase: Peter Obi 24-hour electricity.