Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), says he is prepared to protect the votes cast for him in the 2027 general election, even if it means risking his life.
Obi made the statement on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during a town hall meeting with voters tagged **“Obi Talks Nigeria.”**
The former Anambra State governor was responding to questions about the prospects of the 2027 presidential election and concerns over the conduct of the polls.
Obi contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party (LP), finishing third behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who won the election.
Since the 2023 election, Obi and members of his political camp have repeatedly alleged that the process was affected by irregularities and manipulation.
Speaking at the Port Harcourt meeting, Obi urged Nigerians to prevent a repeat of what he described as intimidation and voter suppression during the 2023 elections.
“Nobody will intimidate us again at the polling booth,” Obi said.
He argued that the number of voters at polling units far exceeds the number of officials, making it possible for citizens to resist attempts at intimidation.
“If you get to any polling booth today, the highest number of officials you see is five. The average number of voters is 40 to 50. There is no way five people will intimidate 50 people,” he said.
“This time all of us will rescue our country. Somebody said, ‘We are ready to die.’ Let me tell you, I’m ready to die too.”
Obi also said the NDC would establish coordination mechanisms to help protect voters and ensure they are able to exercise their franchise freely.
“We will make sure we have coordination to ensure that such intimidation does not arise,” he said.
On the electronic transmission and viewing of election results, Obi expressed concern that attempts could be made to manipulate the Independent National Electoral Commission’s result viewing portal (IReV).
“Yes, they will try to manipulate the IReV. But let me tell you, it will not be easy this time,” he said.
He said the NDC would rely on alternative technological measures to promote transparency in the transmission and collation of results.
“There will be so many IReVs this time. If there is a network glitch, we will give them another one that has no glitch,” Obi said.
“By allowing them to continue, that glitch will glitch our lives. That is what we are suffering today.”
