ZLP presidential candidate promises security

The presidential candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, Dan Nwanyanwu, has placed provision of security and fight against corruption at the centre of his 2027 campaign agenda, promising sweeping reforms if elected president in the next general election. Nwanyanwu made the remarks on Saturday after emerging as the party’s presidential candidate at the ZLP national convention in Abuja, where he presented his priorities for national governance ahead of the 2027 polls. His emergence adds to the growing list of contenders positioning for the presidency as political parties intensify preparations for what is expected to be a highly competitive election cycle. Addressing delegates and supporters, the ZLP flag bearer said insecurity had become a major obstacle to national stability, stressing that the situation had weakened public confidence in government and hindered economic activity. “We have reached a point where insecurity has become a source of national embarrassment. Citizens no longer feel safe in many parts of the country, and confidence in the ability of government to protect lives and property has been severely weakened,” he said. Nigeria has continued to grapple with terrorism in the North-East, banditry in parts of the North-West and North-Central, kidnapping for ransom, communal clashes and other violent crimes, with impacts on agriculture, commerce and investment. According to Nwanyanwu, restoring security must precede any meaningful economic transformation. He criticised past administrations for failing to adequately confront the root causes of insecurity, blaming weak political will for the persistence of violent crimes. “It is a common fact that no nation battling this level of insecurity can achieve sustainable development. Before we can talk about economic growth, industrialisation or prosperity, we must first secure the lives and property of Nigerians. “The lack of political will by those in authority has contributed significantly to the security challenges confronting our nation. Nigerians deserve a government that is ready to act decisively and responsibly,” he said. Outlining his proposals, Nwanyanwu pledged to strengthen intelligence operations, enhance inter-agency coordination and reform law enforcement institutions to improve efficiency in tackling crime. He also advocated a stronger community policing framework, saying local communities remain critical to intelligence gathering and crime prevention. “As President and Commander-in-Chief, I will immediately direct our security and intelligence agencies to identify, track and dismantle c