By Idris Umar, Zaria Thousands of supporters and members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) attended a town hall meeting a...
By Idris Umar, Zaria
Thousands of supporters and members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) attended a town hall meeting addressed by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in Kaduna on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
The meeting, held at the Big City Event Centre in Kaduna, brought together participants from different parts of the country who engaged the candidates on issues ranging from insecurity and unemployment to electricity, drug abuse and the operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Upon their arrival, prominent guests at the event were introduced, after which Senator Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and leader of the Kwankwasiya movement, formally introduced Obi to the gathering.
The two candidates thanked the participants for attending, including supporters who travelled from Kaduna, Kano and Abuja.
According to the organisers, the town hall was designed to provide an opportunity for direct interaction between the candidates and members of the public on their proposed leadership agenda, campaign promises and the relationship between elected leaders and citizens.
Participants were allowed to ask questions directly, with Alhaji Buba Galadima among those who addressed questions to the candidates.
One of the questions directed at Obi concerned how a government led by the NDC would address insecurity and allegations of threats against opposition parties and their supporters during political activities, particularly following reports of attacks on vehicles belonging to opposition supporters in Kaduna.
In response, Obi said an administration led by the party would take appropriate measures to address insecurity while also promoting public awareness and responsible conduct during political activities.
The candidates were also questioned about allegations that security agencies sometimes arrest young people over comments made on social media, while perpetrators of kidnapping and other serious crimes remain at large.
Responding, Obi referred to Kwankwaso's experience in security-related matters and said that, if elected, their administration would take measures to address the country's security challenges.
Obi also linked youth unemployment to some of the security challenges facing the country. He said creating employment opportunities and expanding economic activities for young people would be among the priorities of their administration.
Electricity was another major issue raised during the interaction, with participants asking the candidates about their plans to address Nigeria's persistent power supply challenges.
Questions were also raised about drug abuse among young people and measures to tackle the problem.
In response, Obi said expanding employment opportunities and developing industries would form part of the measures his administration would pursue to address some of the challenges confronting young Nigerians.
On the EFCC, Obi said the agency's operational system would be reviewed under their proposed administration. He stressed the importance of due process and the rule of law in the commission's activities, rather than what he described as targeting individuals.
Among the notable attendees was Gawuna, a former Deputy Governor of Kano State, alongside other political leaders, party members and supporters from different parts of the country.
The meeting ended peacefully, with participants dispersing after the conclusion of the discussions.
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