Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has rejected claims that he asked Nigerian soldiers to reject salary increases until after the 2027 elections, but used the controversy to unveil what could become a major pillar of his presidential campaign — a fundamental overhaul of Nigeria’s military welfare and security architecture.
Obi, in a statement made available on Tuesday, dismissed the report as false and urged Nigerians to disregard it.
“I never said military should reject salary increase,” Obi said.
But beyond the denial, the former Anambra State governor used the controversy to make a broader case that pay alone cannot fix the conditions confronting Nigeria’s armed forces.
He argued that soldiers defending the country require adequate equipment, operational resources, protection, motivation and institutional backing to effectively confront terrorism and insurgency.
Obi said recent incidents in which soldiers were reportedly left exposed while battling terrorists underscored the need to place military welfare at the heart of national security policy.
“Those who ensure Nigeria’s security must never be relegated to a secondary concern,” he said.
The NDC candidate promised that, if elected President, the welfare, safety, resources and professional dignity of military personnel would receive priority attention.
He said his administration would strengthen support for troops operating in dangerous theatres, provide the equipment required for effective operations and ensure that servicemen and women are not left without adequate protection when confronting armed groups.
“Under my leadership, scenarios where our servicemen and women are left unprotected in the face of peril will be eradicated,” Obi said.
Obi’s intervention effectively shifted the controversy from whether soldiers should accept a pay rise to a broader question of how Nigeria funds, equips and protects its military.
The former governor argued that Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be resolved simply by increasing personnel salaries while leaving troops without the equipment, operational support and protection required to survive on the battlefield.
His position could become significant in the 2027 presidential race, where insecurity is expected to remain one of the central issues confronting candidates.
Obi said his concern had consistently been that Nigerian troops were being asked to defend the nation under difficult conditions without adequate institutional support.
He particularly cited the loss of soldiers during a delayed rescue operation, questioning how personnel entrusted with defending citizens could themselves be left vulnerable when they urgently required assistance.
The incident, he said, reinforced his conviction that military welfare should be treated as a national-security priority, rather than an issue secondary to other government expenditures.
“My profound respect for our security forces, particularly the Nigerian Army personnel who diligently serve and protect our nation under challenging conditions, is unwavering,” Obi said.
He maintained that soldiers deserve adequate remuneration but argued that effective military support must extend beyond salaries to include equipment, welfare, protection and professional support.
The NDC candidate also used the controversy to warn Nigerians against what he described as politically motivated misinformation as parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 election.
He urged voters to verify statements attributed to political figures rather than relying on unverified reports circulating on social media.
Obi said his commitment to the armed forces remained firm and that any policy concerning military personnel under his leadership would be guided by the overriding objective of making Nigeria safer.
The former governor’s response therefore goes beyond a simple denial of an alleged statement. It places military welfare, battlefield protection and security-sector reform squarely within his emerging 2027 campaign narrative.
With terrorism, banditry and other forms of insecurity continuing to dominate national discourse, Obi is positioning the treatment of Nigeria’s security personnel as a measure of the country’s ability to win its long-running war against insecurity.
He urged Nigerians to reject the claim that he opposed salary increases for soldiers and instead focus on his stated commitment to strengthening the institution responsible for defending the nation.
“The realisation of a new and secure Nigeria is indeed possible,” Obi said.