Profile
Peter Obi is a Nigerian politician from Agulu, Anaocha Local Government. Born on the 19th of July 1961, Peter Obi was governor of Anambra State in Nigeria from 17 March 2006 to 2 November 2006.
He was impeached from 9 February 2007 to 29 May 2007 when his impeachment was overturned. Although a fresh election was held on 29 April 2007, he was later reappointed as governor on 14 June 2007 after a court ruling that he should be allowed to complete a four-year term. He went on to win the February 2010 election for a second term as governor.
He is now the Labour Party candidate for President of Nigeria in the 2023 presidential election. Obi’s presidential campaign has been described as populist and has been noted for its support among many young Nigerians, who have been nicknamed “Obi-dients”.
Personal Life
Peter Obi is married to Margaret Brownson Usen. The couple is blessed with two children, Gregory Peter Obi and Gabriella Nwamaka Frances Obi.
Education
School | Degree | Date |
Christ the King College, Onitsha | O’ Level | |
B.A (Hons) in philosophy | University of Nigeria, Nsukka | (1980-1984) |
Work History
Company | Position | Date |
Next International Nigeria Ltd | Chairman | |
Guardian Express Mortgage Bank Ltd | Chairman | |
Guardian Express Bank Plc | Chairman | |
Future View Securities Ltd | Chairman | |
Paymaster Nigeria Ltd | Chairman | |
Chams Nigeria Ltd | Chairman | |
Data Corp Ltd | Chairman | |
Chairman of Fidelity Bank PLC | Chairman | |
Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) | Chairman |
Political History
Governorship
First term
Peter Obi was the Anambra State governorship candidate for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) party in 2003, but his rival, Chris Ngige of the People’s Democratic Party, was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
After nearly three years of litigation, Ngige’s victory was overturned by the Court of Appeal on 15 March 2006. Obi took office on 17 March 2006. On 2 November 2006, he was impeached by the state house of assembly after seven months in office and replaced the next day by Virginia Etiaba, his deputy, making her the first ever female Governor in Nigeria’s history. Obi successfully challenged his impeachment and was re-instated as the governor on 9 February 2007 by the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu. Etiaba handed power back to him after the court ruling.
He once again left office on 29 May 2007 following the general elections, which Andy Uba won. Obi returned to the courts once more, this time contending that the four-year tenure he had won in the 2003 elections only started to run when he took office in March 2006. On 14 June 2007 the Supreme Court of Nigeria upheld Obi’s contention and returned Obi to office. This brought to an abrupt end the tenure of Obi’s successor, Andy Uba whose April 14, 2007 election the Supreme Court nullified on the grounds that Obi’s four-year tenure should have remained undisturbed until March 2010.
Second term
On 7 February 2010, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Peter Obi the winner of the February 6th 2010 gubernatorial elections, where he defeated Professor Charles Soludo, former Governor, CBN. This election victory gave Governor Obi an additional four years as the governor of Anambra State. On the 17th of March 2014 Peter Obi served out his second term and handed over the governorship to Willie Obiano.
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
He is the presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP) for the 2023 election.
Leadership Style/Philosophy
Awards & Honours
- 2014: Champion Newspaper Most Outstanding Igbo Man of the Decade.
2014 The Voice Newspaper (Holland) Achievers Award for Outstanding Example in Leadership and Governance.
2013: Silverbird Man of the Year (with Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State).
2012: Business Hallmark Newspaper Man of the Year.
2012: The Golden Award on Prudence – by the Methodist Church of Nigeria as the Most
Financially Prudent Governor in Nigeria.
2012: Leadership and Good Governance Award by The Ezeife Leadership Foundation Award for restoring peace and harmony to Anambra State.
2012: Best Performing Governor on Immunization in South-East Nigeria – by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
2012: Outstanding Financial Planner and Manager – by the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion for resourcefulness and creativity in governance.
2011: Zik Leadership Prize.
2010: ICT Governor of the Year – by the West Africa ICT Development Award.
2009: Champion Newspaper Nigeria’s Most Trustworthy Governor Award.
2009: Thisday Newspaper Most Prudent Governor in Nigeria.
2007: The Sun Newspaper Man of the Year Award.
Project
- Infrastructural development: Built schools in Anambra State
Criticism/Controversy
- Divorce with his wife after 25 years of marriage.
- Ejection out of APGA