Peter Obi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Obi
CON
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| Governor of Anambra State | |
| In office 14 June 2007 – 17 March 2014 |
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| President | Olusegun Obasanjo |
| Preceded by | Andy Uba |
| Succeeded by | Willie Obiano |
| In office 9 February 2007 – 29 May 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Virginia Etiaba |
| Succeeded by | Andy Uba |
| In office 17 March 2006 – 3 November 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Chris Ngige |
| Succeeded by | Virginia Etiaba |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Peter Gregory Obi
19 July 1961 Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Other political affiliations |
All Progressives Grand Alliance (before 2022) People's Democratic Party (before 2022) |
| Spouse |
Margaret Brownson Usen
(m. 1992) |
| Residence | Onitsha |
| Education |
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| Signature | |
Peter Gregory Obi is a Nigerian politician and businessman. He was the Governor of Anambra State for two terms. He first served from 2006 to 2014, though his time in office had some interruptions.
In 2022, he joined the Labour Party. He then became their candidate for president in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election.
Peter Obi was born in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. He went to Christ the King College, Onitsha for high school. Later, he studied at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He started his career in banking before getting into politics.
He first ran for Governor of Anambra State in 2003. Even though Chris Ngige was first declared the winner, a court later said Peter Obi had won. So, he became governor on March 17, 2006.
His time as governor was not always smooth. He was removed from office for a short time in November 2006. But he went to court and was put back in office in February 2007. Another election was held, and Andy Uba became governor in May 2007. Peter Obi went to court again, and the Supreme Court agreed with him. He then served as governor from June 2007 to March 2010.
Peter Obi ran for re-election and won. He continued to be governor until March 17, 2014. After that, Willie Obiano took over as governor.
In 2019, Peter Obi tried to become the Vice President of Nigeria. He ran with Atiku Abubakar after joining the Peoples Democratic Party. However, they lost the election to Muhammadu Buhari. In 2022, he became a member of the Labour Party. He was chosen as their presidential candidate. He picked Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed as his running mate for the 2023 election. They lost to Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima. Peter Obi's campaign was very popular, especially with a group of supporters called the 'Obidients'.
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Early Life and Education
Peter Obi was born on July 19, 1961, in Onitsha, Nigeria. His family was Christian and came from the Igbo town of Agulu. He went to Christ the King College, Onitsha for his secondary education. There, he earned his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate.
In 1980, he started studying Philosophy at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka. He graduated in 1984. Peter Obi also studied at several other well-known schools around the world. These include Lagos Business School, Harvard Business School, and Cambridge Judge Business School.
Political Career
Serving as Governor
Peter Obi first ran for Governor of Anambra State in 2003. He ran under the All Progressives Grand Alliance party. He lost to Chris Ngige at first. But in 2006, a court ruled that Peter Obi had actually won the 2003 election. So, he became governor on March 17, 2006.
On November 3, 2006, the Anambra State House of Assembly removed him from office. Peter Obi challenged this decision in court. The Supreme Court of Nigeria said his removal was wrong. He was put back in office on June 14, 2007.
On February 7, 2010, Peter Obi won the Anambra State election again. He served his second term until March 17, 2014. Then, Willie Obiano became the new governor.
After the 2015 General Election, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Peter Obi. He became the chairman of the Nigerian Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). On October 12, 2018, Peter Obi was chosen as the running mate for Atiku Abubakar. They ran for president in 2019 under the Peoples Democratic Party. They came in third place in the election results.
Presidential Campaign
On March 24, 2022, Peter Obi announced he wanted to run for President of Nigeria. He first planned to run with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, he later decided to run under the Labour Party instead.
He reportedly left the PDP because he was concerned about vote buying during their primary election. Peter Obi's background in business and his position as a candidate not from the two main parties made his campaign unique.
The Obidient Movement
During the 2023 Presidential election campaign, many young people supported Peter Obi. They showed their support on social media, in protests, and in street marches. These young supporters were called the "Obidients." This name came from his last name, Obi.
Many people felt that Peter Obi's ideas were appealing. He talked about being careful with money and focusing on economic growth. Political experts said that Peter Obi's campaign attracted young voters. These voters were often unhappy with the two main political parties. This led to what some called the "biggest political movement in recent Nigerian history."
Peter Obi's main message was about being responsible and accountable. This helped his previously less-known Labour Party become a strong third choice. Before the official campaigns began, his supporters held many "One Million Man Marches." These marches took place in several Nigerian cities, including Makurdi, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Abuja, and Kano. These marches were led by volunteers and had huge turnouts.
Choosing a Running Mate
At first, a doctor named Doyin Okupe was Peter Obi's temporary running mate. This was until a permanent candidate could be chosen. Media reports suggested that former Senator Shehu Sani might become his running mate.
On July 8, 2022, Peter Obi announced his running mate. It was Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, who represented Kaduna North Senatorial District. Peter Obi said he chose him because they shared similar goals for Nigeria. He believed they could work together to make Nigeria safe, united, and productive.
Election Results
The results of the election were announced on March 1, 2023. Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress party was named the president-elect. He received 8.79 million votes. Peter Obi received 6.1 million votes. He won in both Lagos and Abuja. This placed Peter Obi in third place. He was behind Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party.
Because there were many claims of voter manipulation and unfairness, Peter Obi said he would challenge the election results. He stated that he believed they had won the election and would prove it to Nigerians.
Personal Life and Awards
In 1992, Peter Obi married Margaret Brownson (whose maiden name was Usen). They have two children, a son named Oseloka and a daughter named Gabriella.
Peter Obi has received many awards for his work. In 2007, The Sun newspaper named him Man of the Year. In 2009, This Day newspaper called him the Most Prudent Governor in Nigeria. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recognized him in 2012. They gave him an award for being the Best Performing Governor on Immunization in Southeast, Nigeria.
In 2013, Peter Obi was named the Silverbird Group's Man of the Year. In 2014, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Lagos Business School Alumni Association. He also received the Nigerian Library Association Golden Merit Award. In 2020, This Day gave him the Governor of the Decade award. In 2022, he received the Leadership Excellence Award's Man of the Year.
See also
In Spanish: Peter Obi para niños
- List of Igbo people
- List of governors of Anambra State
