The former Anambra State governor said the responsibility for securing credible elections could not be left to politicians or electoral officials alone, insisting that citizens must defend their votes.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has told Nigerians supporting his political movement that he is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice in the struggle to change the country, urging them not to be intimidated ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former Anambra State governor said the responsibility for securing credible elections could not be left to politicians or electoral officials alone, insisting that citizens must defend their votes.
His remarks came amid renewed political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition parties intensifying efforts to mobilise voters.
Mr Obi told the gathering that attempts to manipulate the electoral process should be resisted through sustained civic participation.
He said his supporters should not be frightened by threats or intimidation, stressing that the objective should be to ensure Nigerians’ choices at the ballot box are respected.
“I’m equally ready to die,” Mr Obi said, responding to a supporter who had expressed a willingness to make sacrifices for the cause.
He said he was prepared to stand with Nigerians who were determined to ensure that their votes counted.
According to him, political change would require citizens to take an active interest in campaigns and the electoral process rather than remain passive observers.
Mr Obi also expressed confidence that attempts to manipulate the 2027 elections would encounter stronger resistance, without elaborating on the specific forms of manipulation he anticipated.
The NDC candidate used the occasion to connect the country’s economic and infrastructural difficulties to what he described as failures in leadership.
He argued that problems affecting critical sectors could not be addressed without first confronting the quality of political leadership responsible for policymaking and governance.
Mr Obi specifically cited Nigeria’s refinery challenges as an example, arguing that the condition of critical infrastructure reflects broader governance failures.
He urged Nigerians to see the 2027 election as an opportunity to demand accountability and to determine the country’s direction through their votes.
The Port Harcourt engagement is part of Mr Obi’s town hall series, through which he has been interacting directly with Nigerians ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Channels Television reported that the session featured questions from participants and discussions on the country’s political, economic and security challenges.
Mr Obi is seeking the presidency on the NDC platform after finishing third in the 2023 presidential election as the candidate of the Labour Party. He has since emerged as one of the major opposition figures campaigning for political change ahead of the 2027 poll.
