Presidential hopeful Peter Obi has issued a blunt warning to would-be election riggers, promising jail time for anyone caught manipulating votes if he wins the 2027 race — no matter how small the infraction.
Speaking to ARISE NEWS on Thursday, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate and former Anambra State governor said his administration would take a zero-tolerance stance on electoral fraud, insisting that even tampering with a single vote would carry criminal consequences.
Beyond election security, Obi laid out a broader vision for how he’d govern, promising to keep opposition parties close rather than sideline them. He said his government would consult opposition figures on major national decisions and shield them from harassment, framing inclusive governance as central to his approach.
He also pledged accessibility, vowing to stay grounded in Nigeria rather than travel abroad frequently, so citizens would always know where to find their president.
On the question of political tolerance, Obi pointed to his record as Anambra governor, when he said he allowed rival politicians — including Bola Tinubu ally Babatunde Fashola and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, campaigning for a different candidate — to canvass freely in his state. He described that openness as a hallmark of genuine democracy, arguing that voters, not restrictions, should decide elections.
The remarks come as Obi ramps up campaign messaging ahead of the 2027 presidential vote, positioning himself as a candidate committed to clean elections and a more collaborative political culture.
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