Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi on Wednesday declared that his camp would “rig those who rig” the 2027 elections and promised to prosecute electoral offenders if he becomes president.
Obi made the remarks at an NDC town hall meeting in Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State while addressing supporters on electoral integrity.
Responding to a question about possible vote manipulation, the former Anambra State governor said: “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 added that an administration under his leadership would make rigging impossible by strengthening political parties and reforming the electoral process.
“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,” Obi said.
The NDC candidate also called for stricter eligibility rules for candidates, insisting that anyone seeking elective office must have attended primary and secondary school.
“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,” he said. “If you didn’t attend any of them or forge your certificate, you go to jail.”
Obi extended the warning to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and others involved in election administration.
“Any INEC official, anybody who is involved with elections under my watch that rigs elections will go to jail,” he declared.
He stressed that the rule of law would apply without exception. “Under my watch, Nigeria must be a country that has a law and votes from number one person to the last person must obey the rule of law. Nobody will be above the law. Nobody will behave rascally,” Obi said.
