Peter Obi Vows Jail Terms for Election Rigging, Promises Electoral Reforms

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general election, Peter Obi, has vowed to ensure that anyone involved in electoral fraud faces prosecution and imprisonment if he becomes president.

Obi made the remarks on Wednesday during an NDC town hall meeting in Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, where he addressed party supporters on electoral integrity and the need to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system.

Responding to a question about election rigging, the former Anambra State governor said his party would resist attempts to manipulate the 2027 elections.

“You didn’t ask about what we are going to do if people rig election next year. Let me assure you, number one, this coming election, we will rig those who rig it,” Obi said.

He further pledged to strengthen political parties and reform the electoral process to make election manipulation more difficult if he is elected president.

“And let me assure you number two, if I’m elected the President of Nigeria, nobody will rig election in this country again because the first thing we need to do is to strengthen our parties, strengthen the process,” he said.

Obi also called for stricter eligibility requirements for political candidates, arguing that anyone seeking elective office should have attended both primary and secondary school. He warned that individuals who forge academic certificates would face imprisonment under his proposed approach.

“Our laws will be strict. For you to contest election, you must have attended a primary school, you must have attended a secondary school and it will be visible, it will be clear,” he said.

“If you didn’t attend any of them or forge your certificate, you go to jail,” Obi added.

The NDC candidate extended his warning to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other individuals involved in election administration, saying electoral offences would attract prison terms under his proposed administration.

“Any INEC official, anybody who is involved with elections under my watch that rigs elections will go to jail,” he declared.

Obi’s comments place electoral integrity, institutional reform and penalties for election-related offences at the centre of his stated agenda ahead of the 2027 general election.