The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the next general election is free, fair and credible.
Speaking during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, Obi appealed to Nigerian youths to join him in demanding a transparent electoral process, saying it would become part of President Tinubu’s legacy.
Obi also dismissed claims that the support of many state governors for Tinubu would guarantee his victory in the 2027 presidential election. According to him, governors do not always reflect the views of the people they govern.
The former Anambra State governor further argued that political parties in Nigeria no longer have clear ideologies. He also alleged that politicians facing corruption allegations are often no longer criticised once they join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said, “36 governors support the president. The people in the states are not necessarily with them. It is one thing for a governor to support the president and another for the people to support him. The answer is no. What I am asking for is a free, fair and credible election, which will go down as part of his legacy.
“That is why I am begging the youths, whose lives and futures are at stake, to come out and join me in demanding free, fair and credible elections. It will go down as part of his legacy. He campaigned as a democrat. He has fought for democracy. This is the time to prove it.
“When Yar’Adua became president, he said, ‘The process through which I came into office is faulty, and I am going to ensure that it does not happen again, even if I have to lose.’ He did it.
“He demonstrated it through all his actions. All the subsequent elections after him were free, fair and credible. I contested for a second term then, and nothing happened. That was why people like me, Oshiomhole and others were able to win second terms.
“For me, there is no political party in Nigeria today that has an ideology. There is none. Otherwise, the ideology of the APC would be that if you are corrupt and you move to the APC, you are no longer corrupt.”
