The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has vowed to prosecute anyone found guilty of 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 addressed party supporters on electoral integrity and the need to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process.
Responding to a question on election rigging, the former Anambra State governor said his party would not allow electoral manipulation to go unchallenged in the forthcoming election.
He declared that his administration would strengthen political parties and reform the electoral process to prevent electoral malpractice.
“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,” Obi said.
The NDC candidate also called for stricter requirements for individuals seeking elective offices, arguing that aspirants should demonstrate that they attended primary and secondary schools.
He warned that anyone who forged academic certificates or falsely claimed to possess the required qualifications would face imprisonment.
“If you didn’t attend any of them or forge your certificate, you go to jail,” he said.
Obi extended the warning to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other individuals involved in election administration, declaring that anyone found guilty of rigging elections under his government would be prosecuted.
“Any INEC official, anybody who is involved with elections under my watch that rigs elections will go to jail,” he stated.
He said his proposed approach would be guided by the rule of law, stressing that no individual, regardless of position, would be above the law.
“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.”
The former Anambra governor said his presidential ambition was driven by a desire to transform Nigeria and establish a system where electoral rules are respected.
“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.
