The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general election, Peter Obi, has said Nigerians have the power to ensure credible elections, insisting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will only act according to the resolve of the electorate.
Obi made the statement on Friday while speaking with journalists after attending the burial service of Pa Simon Okorie Abaa, father of NDC Ebonyi South senatorial candidate, Chief Linus Okorie, in Onicha, Ebonyi State.
Speaking on the 2027 general election, Obi said his confidence was not solely in INEC but in Nigerians’ determination to defend their votes.
“It is not about confidence in INEC. Do I still have confidence in the people? Because it is the people that will determine what INEC will do. If the people insist that their votes will count, their votes will count.”
Obi urged Nigerians to reflect on the current state of the country and the future of the next generation, saying anyone seeking genuine change is making a great sacrifice.
“It is for Nigerians to look at what is happening in the country today and ask themselves what the future holds for our children in this enterprise called Nigeria. Are we going to continue in this direction? Anybody talking about changing Nigeria today is making the ultimate sacrifice because we cannot continue like this.”
The former Anambra State governor also lamented the worsening economic situation, saying poverty and hunger continue to rise across the country.
“Every day poverty is increasing. Every day hunger is increasing. You don’t even need World Bank reports to know this because you can see it in the villages.”
He added that millions of Nigerians are facing severe hunger and questioned how much longer the situation could continue.
“They are saying that about 70 million Nigerians are facing acute hunger. What are we going to do about it? Are we going to continue like this? No. That is not possible.”
On allegations that opposition supporters are being intimidated, Obi said the country’s economic hardship has become the greatest form of harassment Nigerians are facing.
“For me, every Nigerian is already being harassed by hunger. People are being harassed by the worsening situation in the country. Everybody is affected.”
He called on Nigerians to speak up against the hardship confronting them.
“It is time for Nigerians to tell those who are harassing us that enough is enough.”
The remarks have since generated reactions across social media.
@Nat Ejiofor: “No bi we go announce the winner😥”
@Chinedum Duru: “Everywhere OBI OBI OBI. What of Atiku and other opposition candidates?”
@Chris Jones: “I agree completely with Mr Peter Obi. Our vote will count come 2027.. Tinubu and APC must be flushed out of Aso Rock forever”
@Davkeys Visuals: “he is right”
@Bell Qwin: “Yes oooooo”
@Chisom Anyaegbu: “Na you I go still vote for. I no Dey for all this ‘will our vote count?’”
@Labre Olakunleoni: “We have seen the messiah please”
