The presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Esther Okereke, has challenged Nigerians to give a woman the opportunity to lead the country in 2027, arguing that decades of male-dominated leadership have failed to deliver the desired results.
Okereke said Nigerians should look beyond gender and assess candidates based on their competence, policy proposals and commitment to accountability, insisting that she had a clear plan to address the country’s numerous challenges.
The NRM candidate spoke on Wednesday during an appearance on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, where she discussed her ambition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
She disclosed that she had encountered Nigerians who questioned whether a woman could effectively lead Africa’s most populous nation.
Responding to such concerns, Okereke challenged voters to reconsider their support for male politicians, arguing that the country’s leadership record should prompt Nigerians to explore alternative options.
“Do you think a man who has failed for over 20 years should continue? If you don’t think so, then give this woman a chance,” she said.
Nigeria has never elected a woman as president since independence, with presidential politics largely dominated by men.
Of the 18 presidential candidates cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2027 election, only two are women: Okereke of the NRM and Ada Okwori of the National Democratic Party.
They will be challenging male contenders, including President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
However, Okereke maintained that her campaign was not built around gender considerations but on a governance agenda focused on rescuing the country from its economic and developmental challenges.
“By the way, I’m not here for gender politics. I’m here with accountability. I’m here with a blueprint, a plan, a framework to rescue,” she said.
The NRM candidate identified electricity as one of the first sectors she would prioritise if elected president, describing reliable power supply as essential to economic growth, business survival and technological advancement.
She lamented the difficulties facing small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly businesses that lose customers and incur additional operating costs because of unreliable electricity.
According to her, many businesses are forced to depend on generators and other expensive alternatives, increasing their operational expenses and undermining their competitiveness.
Okereke also argued that a stable electricity supply would enable Nigeria to maximise the benefits of technology, including the deployment of smart monitoring systems to improve efficiency across different sectors.
The presidential hopeful also identified insecurity as a major obstacle to national development, saying the situation discourages Nigerians in the diaspora from returning home to invest in the economy.
She said some Nigerians abroad were interested in partnering with people at home to build businesses and contribute to national development but remained concerned about the security situation.
“I have lots of friends that want to come back home to invest, not as charity, but as partners, for us to build Nigeria,” she said.
“But when you tackle the insecurity, you would have lots of people coming home, you know, peacefully.”
Okereke’s comments come amid persistent security challenges in parts of the country, with insecurity continuing to raise concerns about citizens’ safety, economic activities and the country’s investment climate.
The NRM candidate also criticised the practice of carrying out road repairs shortly before political officeholders visit communities, arguing that public infrastructure should be maintained as a routine responsibility rather than as a show of performance.
She said public officials must understand that occupying political office comes with an obligation to serve citizens rather than pursue activities designed primarily to impress visiting dignitaries.
“If you have decided to go into public office, just have it at the back of your mind that you’re a servant. You’re here to serve the people, and that’s how it should be,” she said.
She maintained that governance should be driven by the needs of ordinary Nigerians rather than political convenience.
Okereke further said her campaign was built around grassroots engagement, insisting that citizens should be treated as partners in governance rather than merely as voters whose support is needed during elections.
According to her, elected officials must remain accountable to the people after winning elections by providing regular updates on government activities and responding to questions about their performance.
“You don’t just need the grassroots for votes. You need them for partnership,” she said.
“After the election, you need to answer questions from them. You need to give them updates.”
She added that her proposed governance framework would prioritise critical sectors, including housing and healthcare, with particular attention to improving access to essential health services for people at the grassroots.
The NRM candidate’s appeal for Nigerians to consider female leadership comes against the backdrop of the country’s history of male-dominated presidential contests, with women continuing to face significant barriers to securing the nation’s highest political office.
Okereke is seeking to persuade voters that the 2027 election should be decided by candidates’ policy proposals, accountability and capacity to address Nigeria’s challenges rather than their gender.
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