Former Anambra State Governor and NDC Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has defended the 13-month doctors’ strike that occurred during his administration, saying no mass deaths were recorded as a result of the industrial action.

Obi made the remarks on Monday, August 24, 2026, at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he participated in a political session alongside other presidential contenders and representatives. The conference, themed “Beyond Limits ’26,” brought together political leaders and legal practitioners to discuss issues affecting Nigeria’s development.

Responding to criticism of the prolonged strike, Obi said he inherited a healthcare system that was in a poor state, noting that Anambra had neither an accredited nursing school nor a teaching hospital