The National Rescue Movement, NRM, has elected Mrs Esther Okereke as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Unveiling her at the party’s national convention and presidential primary in Abuja on Friday, MAY 29, the National Chairman, Chinedu Obi said Okereke emerged after successfully completing the party’s screening process.
Addressing delegates, Obi described the convention as a historic mission and a crucial national responsibility, expressing confidence that Nigeria could be rebuilt through visionary leadership, collective sacrifice and responsible governance.
He commended delegates for attending despite prevailing security challenges, saying their presence reflected courage, patriotism and faith in the NRM’s ideals.
The chairman lamented the country’s worsening insecurity, sympathising with victims of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal clashes, as well as displaced families, widows, unemployed graduates and struggling workers. He also expressed concern over the plight of farmers unable to access their farmlands and millions of Nigerians facing poverty and economic hardship.
According to Obi, Nigeria’s greatest challenge is not a lack of resources but persistent leadership failures that have undermined development and prosperity. He noted that despite the nation’s abundant mineral wealth, fertile land and energetic population, poor governance and weak institutions have left many citizens trapped in poverty.
He insisted that insecurity, corruption and poverty are not inevitable, stressing that Nigeria remains capable of achieving stability, growth and sustainable development.
Obi said the NRM was founded to promote social justice, accountability, constitutional governance and the rule of law. He highlighted the party’s “Rescue Nigeria Blueprint,” a 24-pillar policy agenda covering security, economic reforms, education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, infrastructure and institutional development.
He pledged that an NRM-led government would strengthen security, improve intelligence gathering, revive agriculture, promote industrialisation and expand access to healthcare.
In her acceptance speech, Okereke said politics should be driven by service and good governance rather than the pursuit of power. She unveiled her “ESTHER Agenda,” which she described as a framework for national renewal built on transformative leadership, economic recovery, patriotism and sustainable development.
She explained that ESTHER stands for Education, Security, Technology, Housing, Entrepreneurship and Restitution, aimed at restoring national values, rebuilding patriotism and ensuring inclusive governance.
