The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress for the 2027 general elections, Peter Obi, has said the credibility of the 2027 general election will depend on Nigerians’ resolve to defend their votes, stating that the Independent National Electoral Commission will only act according to the will of the electorate.
- +Nigerians, not INEC, will determine credible polls – Obi
Obi spoke with journalists on Friday after attending the burial service of the late Pa Simon Okorie Abaa, father of the NDC senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, Linus Okorie, at Isiama Primary School, Onicha Igboeze, in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Obi spoke with journalists on Friday after attending the burial service of the late Pa Simon Okorie Abaa, father of the NDC senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, Linus Okorie, at Isiama Primary School, Onicha Igboeze, in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Speaking on preparations for the 2027 general election, Obi said his confidence was not in INEC alone but in Nigerians’ determination to defend their votes.
“It is not about confidence in INEC. Do I still have confidence in the people? Because it is the people that will determine what INEC will do. If the people insist that their votes will count, their votes will count.
The former Anambra State governor lamented the worsening economic situation, saying poverty and hunger had reached alarming levels.
“Every day poverty is increasing. Every day hunger is increasing. You don’t even need World Bank reports to know this because you can see it in the villages.
On concerns that opposition supporters might face intimidation and harassment during the elections, Obi said Nigerians were already suffering from economic hardship.
“For me, every Nigerian is already being harassed by hunger. People are being harassed by the worsening situation in the country. Everybody is affected.
“It is time for Nigerians to tell those who are harassing us that enough is enough,” he said.
Obi also described his relationship with Okorie as longstanding, recalling that they had worked together in the Labour Party before joining the NDC.
“We have worked together before in the Labour Party and now we are in the NDC. That shows we have a close relationship. We are here today to pay our last respects to his late father.
“I pray that God Almighty, who gave Papa a long life and has now called him home, will grant him eternal rest and give the family and all of us the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss. May God continue to bless the family,” Obi said.
