Obi, Kwankwaso and Lulu-Briggs Storm Port Harcourt for Town Hall as Opposition Figures Call for People-Centred Leadership

 Prominent opposition political figures, including Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, were joined by Rivers State governorship hopeful Lulu-Briggs in Port Harcourt for a major political town hall focused on leadership, accountability and citizen participation.

The gathering was presented as a town hall rather than a conventional political rally, with participants given opportunities to ask questions and directly engage the political leaders.

Addressing the audience, Obi stressed that he was not in competition with other opposition leaders but was committed to a common objective of rescuing Nigeria.

“I am not trying to run against him. I am not in competition with him. I am with him. We have a common goal to rescue Nigeria,” Obi said.

Obi argued that anyone seeking to lead Nigeria, from the local government level to the presidency, must be willing to face the people and answer their questions.

According to him, leadership should not be conducted from a distance, with politicians expecting citizens to support them without explaining their plans and programmes.

“Anybody who says he wants to serve in this country, from local government to president, especially the president, must go out and speak to the people,” he said.

He added that leaders must recognise that public office is a responsibility to citizens rather than a position of privilege.

“Leadership cannot be outsourced. If you want to lead, you answer to the people,” Obi declared.

Obi said the purpose of the Port Harcourt gathering was for political leaders to listen directly to Nigerians and understand their expectations.

He said he and Kwankwaso were prepared to answer questions from citizens and explain their vision for the country.

“That is what Rabiu Kwankwaso and I are going to do. We want to listen to you. We want to answer your questions. We want to know what you need and what you expect from us,” he said.

The leaders encouraged members of the audience to freely ask questions, with organisers describing the event as an interactive session designed to allow direct communication between political leaders and citizens.

Obi also challenged political leaders and presidential aspirants to publicly present their backgrounds and records to Nigerians.

He said citizens should have access to information about those seeking public office, including their education, professional history and public records.

The former Anambra State governor said politicians must be prepared to answer questions about their past and demonstrate that they have the integrity required for leadership.

“I challenge every Nigerian: if you have anything that you know that I have done that is wrong, say it out now,” he said.

He added that political leaders must be subjected to public scrutiny and should not be afraid of being questioned by the people they intend to govern.

The town hall also featured concerns about Nigeria's electoral process and the ability of citizens to exercise their voting rights.

Obi insisted that the votes of Nigerians must count and warned against attempts to undermine the will of the electorate.

“Our vote this time must count,” he said, calling for greater accountability in the management of elections.

He also criticised what he described as delays and difficulties experienced by citizens while attempting to access electoral services.

During his address, Obi raised concerns about poverty, healthcare and the condition of public infrastructure across Nigeria.

He argued that political leaders must be prepared to explain how they intend to improve healthcare services, reduce poverty and address infrastructure challenges.

The opposition figure said Nigerians should demand practical solutions from political leaders rather than relying only on campaign promises and political slogans.

According to him, citizens should be allowed to clearly state what they expect from those seeking public office.

“Tell us what you want us to do,” he said.

The organisers repeatedly emphasised that the Port Harcourt event was designed as a town hall rather than a political rally.

Microphones were positioned for members of the audience, while participants were encouraged to ask direct questions.

The format was intended to allow citizens to engage political leaders directly and hear their responses on issues affecting the country.

Obi said Nigerians should play an active role in shaping political leadership and should not wait passively for politicians to determine the country's future.

“Our campaign council is you. You are the community council,” he told the audience.

The Port Harcourt gathering comes as political activities and discussions surrounding the 2027 general elections continue to gain momentum.

The appearance of Obi and Kwankwaso together is likely to generate further discussion about opposition cooperation and possible political alliances ahead of the election.

However, the central message from the town hall was the call for leaders to engage directly with citizens, present their records for public scrutiny and provide clear answers on how they intend to address Nigeria's economic and social challenges.

Political observers believe such town hall engagements could become increasingly important as Nigerians demand greater accountability from politicians seeking public office ahead of 2027.