Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), has vowed that his camp will “rig those who rig” the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the statement on Wednesday during an NDC town hall meeting in Nasarawa State, where he addressed party supporters on electoral integrity and the need to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system.
“Let me assure you, number one, this coming election, we will rig those who rig it,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor added that, if elected president, he would ensure that electoral malpractice was eliminated in Nigeria.
“And let me assure you, number two, if elected the president of Nigeria, nobody will rig the election in this country again,” he said.
Obi also called for stricter enforcement of educational requirements for candidates seeking elective offices, insisting that anyone contesting an election must have attended primary and secondary school.
He warned that individuals who forged educational certificates or failed to meet the stipulated requirements would face imprisonment.
The NDC presidential candidate further vowed to prosecute public officials and other individuals found guilty of electoral fraud under his administration.
“For you to contest the 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.
“Any high-ranking official, anybody who is involved with the election, under my watch, that rigs the election, will go to jail.”
Obi stressed that his administration would ensure that everyone, regardless of their status or position, complied with the law.
He said his ambition was to transform Nigeria by strengthening public institutions, promoting accountability and ensuring that no individual was above the law.
“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,” he said.