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Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has warned that those who manipulate elections will face consequences, declaring that his administration will not tolerate electoral fraud if he wins the 2027 presidential election.
Obi made the declaration on Wednesday during an NDC town hall meeting in Nasarawa State, where he spoke about electoral integrity and the need to reform Nigeria’s electoral system.
Responding to a question about election rigging, the former Anambra State governor said his party would resist attempts to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 general election.
“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,” Obi said.
He further pledged to strengthen political parties and reform the electoral process to make it difficult for anyone to manipulate election results.
“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.
Obi also proposed stricter requirements for anyone seeking elective office, insisting that candidates must have attended both primary and secondary school.
He warned that anyone who forged academic certificates or falsely claimed to possess the required educational qualifications would face imprisonment.
“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,” he added.
The NDC candidate extended the warning to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others involved in election administration, saying anyone found guilty of rigging elections under his administration would be prosecuted.
“Any INEC official, anybody who is involved with elections under my watch that rigs elections will go to jail,” Obi declared.
He stressed that the rule of law would be central to his administration, insisting that no individual, regardless of position, would be above accountability.
“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.”
Obi said his ambition was driven by the desire to transform Nigeria and establish a system in which electoral laws are respected and public officials are held accountable.
“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,” he added.
