Former presidential candidate and ex–Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has criticized Nigerian politicians for openly celebrating electoral malpractice, warning that such actions threaten the nation’s democracy.
Speaking on Wednesday in Enugu State during the formal announcement of his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, Obi expressed deep concern over what he described as the growing normalization of election rigging.
Obi vowed that any attempt to manipulate the 2027 general elections would be firmly resisted through lawful and legitimate means. He also called for the early verification of candidates’ academic credentials, stressing that this would prevent unnecessary legal battles and political crises before elections.
“We have watched people who benefitted from democracy now turning against it — using coercion and gangsterism against the opposition,” Obi said.
“We cannot allow this to continue. Today, people celebrate electoral fraud openly, and we are saying clearly: anyone planning to rig elections in 2027 will be resisted by every lawful and legitimate means.”
