New Group Repositions Ahead of 2027 Elections, Urges Scrutiny of Candidates

Bennett Oghifo

A socio-political and development advocacy organisation, the New Nigeria Group (NNG), has said it is repositioning itself to provide Nigerians with the opportunity to elect credible leaders in the build-up to the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.

The group said it would intensify efforts to encourage citizens to critically examine the pedigree, competence and character of individuals seeking elective offices ahead of the next electoral cycle.

Convener of the New Nigeria Group, Sam Ohuabunwa, disclosed this during an interaction with journalists in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

Ohuabunwa explained that the vision behind the formation of the group dates back to 2009 when he authored a book titled ‘Nigeria at 50: Time for the Evolution of a New Nation’.

 According to him, the ideas contained in the publication laid the intellectual foundation for the movement’s quest to promote a better Nigeria.

He recalled that he had shared copies of the book widely, including with former President Goodluck Jonathan, as part of efforts to stimulate national discourse on the country’s development trajectory.

“God gave me a vision which I now call the New Nigeria Group. That vision came to me in 2009 when I wrote the book ‘Nigeria at 50: Time for the Evolution of a New Nation’. In that book, I articulated how Nigeria could be governed to become the kind of nation we all desire,” he said.

Ohuabunwa recounted how he personally presented multiple copies of the book to Jonathan at different occasions, urging the former president to act on the ideas contained in it.

“I remember giving three copies of the book to former President Jonathan. I took the first copy to his office, the second when he attended an event in Lagos, and the third on another occasion. When he saw it again, he said, ‘Mazi, you gave me this book before.’ I told him that if I saw him acting in line with what I wrote, then I would know he had read it. He laughed,” he narrated.

He added that in 2019 he received what he described as a “revelation” that the ideas he had long advocated should not merely remain theoretical but should also inspire practical engagement in the nation’s political process.

According to him, discussions around the New Nigeria Group began around that period, even before the phrase gained wider traction in national discourse.

Explaining the core vision of the movement, Ohuabunwa said the NNG seeks to promote the emergence of a productively developed Nigeria that could ultimately rank among the world’s leading economies.

“We want to create a nation that will become a developed country, preferably a first-world nation. We have been described as a third-world country for decades, and I keep asking when we will move to the second or first-world status,” he said.

He stressed that achieving such a transformation would require sustained economic productivity, improved education, rising per capita income and accelerated growth across all sectors of the economy.

“Our vision of a New Nigeria is to create a productively driven nation where GDP grows significantly, per capita income rises, education expands, and all the factors of production grow phenomenally,” he explained.

Beyond economic development, Ohuabunwa said the group was equally committed to fostering unity and inclusiveness in the country.

He noted that the envisioned New Nigeria must work for all citizens irrespective of their ethnic background, religion, gender, social class or physical ability.

“It must work for the Northerner, the Westerner and the Southerner. It must work for Christians, Muslims and even atheists. It must work for the poor and the rich, the able and the disabled,” he said.

He lamented that despite Nigeria’s enormous human and natural resources, the aspirations for a truly inclusive and prosperous nation had yet to be fully realised.

According to him, the country must evolve into one where citizens feel valued and fairly treated, adding that such a system would encourage stronger national loyalty.

“We need a country that cares for its people — from birth, through education and employment, to retirement and old age. A country where fairness and equitable representation guide everything the government does,” he stated.

Ohuabunwa further revealed that the New Nigeria Group remained non-partisan, describing it as a coalition of politically conscious individuals drawn from different ideological and party backgrounds.

“Our loyalty is first to Nigerians before any political party. When we eventually decide to support a particular candidate or group, it will be based on alignment with the vision of a New Nigeria, not partisan considerations,” he said.

He disclosed that the group would formally relaunch its activities in May with a gathering he described as a “Regrouping of the Eagles.”

According to him, the event would provide an opportunity for members and supporters to review emerging political developments ahead of the 2027 elections.

He added that the organisation also planned to engage actively in voter education while encouraging Nigerians to scrutinise candidates thoroughly before casting their votes.

“We will ask critical questions about those seeking office — their pedigree, their background, and what they have done before. Their past records will provide clues about what they can do in the future,” Ohuabunwa said.

He maintained that such civic engagement would enable the group to contribute meaningfully to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process as the country prepares for the 2027 polls.