We’ll rig those who rig 2027 elections - Peter Obi

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has pledged to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system and ensure that those involved in election rigging face prosecution if he wins the 2027 presidential election.

Obi spoke on Wednesday, October 28, during an NDC town hall meeting in Nasarawa State, where he addressed supporters on electoral integrity, candidates’ qualifications and accountability in election administration. Responding to a question about electoral manipulation, the former Anambra State governor said his party would not allow attempts to rig the next general election to go unchallenged.

“You didn’t ask about what we are going to do if people rig election next year. Let me assure you, number one, this coming election, we will rig those who rig it,” he said. Obi said that, if elected, his administration would prioritise strengthening political parties and reforming the electoral process to prevent manipulation.

“And let me assure you number two, if I’m elected the President of Nigeria, nobody will rig election in this country again because the first thing we need to do is to strengthen our parties, strengthen the process,” he said. He also proposed stricter requirements for candidates seeking elective office, saying their educational backgrounds should be clear and verifiable.

“Our laws will be strict. For you to contest election, you must have attended a primary school, you must have attended a secondary school and it will be visible, it will be clear,” Obi said. He warned that candidates who forged academic certificates or falsely claimed to possess the required qualifications would face imprisonment.

“If you didn’t attend any of them or forge your certificate, you go to jail,” he said. The NDC candidate extended his warning to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and others responsible for conducting elections. “Any INEC official, anybody who is involved with elections under my watch that rigs elections will go to jail,” he declared.

Obi said his proposed reforms would be guided by the rule of law, with public officials and citizens held accountable regardless of their position. “Under my watch, Nigeria must be a country that has a law, and both from the number one person to the last person must obey the rule of law,” he said. “Nobody must be above the law; nobody will behave rascally.”

He told supporters that his presidential ambition was driven by a desire to change the country and build institutions in which electoral rules were respected. “That’s why we are doing what we are doing. We want to change Nigeria. A new Nigeria is possible, and that new Nigeria will be OK,” Obi added.