By Atlantic Reports

The presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Dr Esther Okereke, says she is not intimidated by President Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi or other prominent politicians ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking during an interview in Abuja on Sunday, Okereke expressed confidence in her capacity to lead and her party’s vision for rebuilding Nigeria.

She argued that candidates should be judged by their governance proposals, commitment to accountability and ability to deliver public services, rather than political longevity or the prominence of their parties.

‘Small but Mighty’

Okereke described the NRM as “small but mighty”, saying its bee symbol represented productivity and service.

“We’re here to produce and feed, not to devour and eat,” she said.

She maintained that individual candidates could expand a party’s appeal and visibility, citing Peter Obi’s association with the Labour Party as an example.

Okereke said she intended to raise the NRM’s national profile through her candidacy. She attributed her choice of the platform to a shared commitment to accountability, structural reform and effective service delivery.

Her remarks set out her political ambitions, but the interview account did not provide a detailed governance blueprint or measurable targets for the reforms she proposed.

Claims of Nationwide Structures

Okereke said the NRM had established organisational structures across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and all 774 local government areas.

She also claimed that the party had coordinators across 176,974 polling units, alongside structures in wards, constituencies and the country’s 109 senatorial districts.

“Don’t forget I am a humanitarian in politics. So, we have our structure too,” she said.

According to Okereke, the network was supported by a communication system capable of rapidly distributing information to members across the country.

The interview account did not include records demonstrating the reach, staffing or operational strength of the claimed network. Her assertion that information could reach everyone within a minute was also not supported by performance data.

Okereke nevertheless maintained that the party had the organisational foundation needed to pursue the presidency, presenting the NRM as a platform capable of competing with more established political forces.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.