Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has vowed to prosecute and imprison anyone involved in electoral fraud if elected president in the 2027 general election.
Obi made the pledge on Wednesday during an NDC town hall meeting in Nasarawa State, where he outlined his plans to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process and ensure accountability in the conduct of elections.
Responding to a question on election rigging, the former Anambra State governor said his party would resist any attempt to manipulate 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 said his administration would introduce measures to prevent electoral malpractice 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,” he said.
Obi also advocated stricter qualification requirements for individuals seeking elective positions, insisting that candidates should be able to demonstrate that they attended primary and secondary schools.
“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 stated.
The NDC candidate warned that anyone found to have forged academic certificates or falsely claimed educational qualifications would face imprisonment.
“If you didn’t attend any of them or forge your certificate, you go to jail,” he said.
Extending his warning to electoral officials, Obi said personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other individuals involved in the conduct of elections would be held accountable for manipulating results under his administration.
“Any INEC official, anybody who is involved with elections under my watch that rigs elections will go to jail,” he declared.
He maintained that his proposed government would uphold the rule of law and ensure that no individual, regardless of status or position, was exempt from 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,” Obi said.
“Nobody must be above the law; nobody will behave rascally.”
Obi said his presidential ambition was driven by the desire to transform Nigeria and establish a system in which public officials and citizens alike respected the law and electoral rules.
“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.
FirmNews reports that Obi’s remarks centred on electoral accountability, stricter enforcement of laws against election manipulation and tougher scrutiny of academic qualifications for candidates seeking public office.
