Peter Obi Says Anyone Who Rigs an Election Under His Presidency Will Go to Jail

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said anyone found to have rigged an election under his administration would be jailed, regardless of the number of votes involved. Obi made the declaration during an ARISE News interview on Thursday, September 24, while outlining his proposed approach to electoral integrity, opposition politics and democratic governance ahead of the 2027 presidential election. “Whoever rigs [sic] the election will be in jail. Even for one vote, you will be in jail,” Obi said.

Obi also pledged that political parties, including opposition parties, would not be harassed under his administration and said they would be involved in decisions on matters of national importance. He argued that Nigeria’s current challenges require broad participation, adding that opposition members would remain involved even when the president travels outside the country.

Obi further called for presidential and other candidates to be allowed to campaign freely across states regardless of the political affiliation of sitting governors, citing his experience as Anambra governor when he said he allowed political opponents to campaign in the state.

The NDC candidate said his broader objective would be to build a stable, united and secure Nigeria for future generations, rather than limit governance to the interests of the party in power. His comments come as political parties prepare for the 2027 elections, with electoral credibility, protection of votes and the political space available to opposition candidates remaining prominent issues in the campaign.

Earlier in September, Obi had also called on Nigerians to protect their votes and challenged critics over claims concerning his record as Anambra governor, while the Anambra State Government has separately maintained that debts from his tenure remain outstanding; those competing claims remain part of an ongoing political dispute.