2027: NRM inaugates presidential campaign council, unveils ‘rescue Nigeria’ agenda

The National Chairman of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Prince Chinedu Obi, has unveiled the party’s “Esther Rescue Nigeria Agenda” as the party formally inaugurated its Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections.

Obi, who spoke at the inauguration of the Dr. Esther Nkem Okereke/Arc. Nasir Suleiman Muhammed 2027 Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on Tuesday, said the NRM was founded on the conviction that “Nigeria can work again” through stronger institutions, accountability and effective leadership.

He said the occasion marked more than the inauguration of another campaign structure, describing it as the formal commencement of an organised national political and policy engagement around the party’s vision for the country.

According to him, Nigeria possesses enormous human and natural resources, agricultural potential, a youthful population and opportunities for industrial, technological and service-sector development, but requires institutions and leadership systems capable of translating those advantages into measurable improvements in citizens’ lives.

Obi said the NRM’s governing philosophy was anchored on “Rule of Law for Peace, Productivity and Shared Prosperity,” arguing that predictable laws, credible institutions, enforceable contracts and accountable public officials were essential to building a functional and productive state.

He also announced the party’s commitment to what he described as zero tolerance for corruption, saying the NRM would emphasise transparent processes, effective controls, independent oversight and consequences for violations of established laws and procedures.

The NRM chairman said the party wanted to move Nigeria from a personality-driven system of governance to an institution-driven one, with ministries, departments and agencies operating on clearly defined mandates, procedures, financial controls, performance indicators, reporting requirements and evaluation mechanisms.

He identified productivity, employment, living standards, security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, energy, industrialisation, agriculture, justice and institutional capacity as interconnected areas requiring comprehensive attention.

Obi said the party’s policy engagement was structured around six principal pillars under the Esther Rescue Nigeria Agenda, drawn from the NRM’s 24-pillar blueprint.

The pillars focus on effective state institutions, a productive economy, education and healthcare, security and justice, infrastructure and energy, as well as science, technology, research, innovation and entrepreneurship.

He said the NRM had deliberately presented a presidential ticket comprising a woman and a younger professional, with Dr. Esther Nkem Okereke as presidential candidate and Arc. Nasir Suleiman Muhammed as running mate, describing the decision as reflecting the party’s emphasis on inclusion, professional capacity and generational renewal.

Obi urged members of the newly inaugurated campaign council to ensure that the party’s campaign was based on ideas, policies and competence.

He said the NRM would promote “ideas rather than insults; policies rather than propaganda; competence rather than entitlement; service rather than self-enrichment; institutions rather than personalities; accountability rather than impunity.”

Speaking after the National Chairman, presidential candidate Dr. Esther Nkem Okereke described the campaign council as the “rescue team” of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

She said the NRM campaign would focus on structure, evidence and peace, rather than political noise, and announced a chain of command stretching from the presidential candidate and Director-General through national directorates, geopolitical zones, states, local government areas, wards and polling units.

Okereke charged the campaign council to operate with discipline and accountability, directing coordinators to submit daily incident reports, weekly performance reports and monthly consolidated reports.

She also said women, youths and students would occupy a central position in the campaign, describing them as the heart of the campaign. On security, the presidential candidate stressed that the campaign’s Security and Safety Liaison Directorate would work only with legally constituted security agencies.

“We will not intimidate, we will not harass. We will not bully. We will Rescue, Rebuild and Restore,” she said.

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She outlined a five-phase campaign strategy covering organisation, capacity building, nationwide operations, election readiness and election-day operations, with the final phase to operate strictly under INEC rules.

The campaign council is chaired by Prince Chinedu Obi, with Okereke as Co-Chairman. Dr. Mustapha Umar Kumshe is Deputy Chairman, while Arc. Nasir Suleiman Muhammed is Co-Deputy Chairman.

Hassan Aminu Ibrahim is Secretary, Obidike Okolo, Esq., Deputy Secretary, Alhaji Sani Garba, Director-General, and Shedrach Oka, Deputy Director-General.

The council also comprises zonal and state chairmen and other officials and members appointed by the party.

Obi charged members to translate the NRM’s development philosophy into a coherent programme of public engagement, saying the party’s internal conduct must reflect the standards it proposes for governance.