BY AHMED AKANBI
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has declared he is ready to make the “ultimate sacrifice” to protect Nigerians’ votes in the 2027 general elections.
He made the declaration in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at a town hall meeting tagged ‘Obi Talks Nigeria’, maintaining that his party and supporters would resist intimidation and any attempt to manipulate the outcome of the polls.
The former Anambra State governor said the days of harassing voters at polling units must Peter Obi, and urged citizens to collectively defend their mandate, noting that voters at most polling units outnumber electoral officials and security personnel deployed.
“Nobody will intimidate us again at the polling booths. Electoral officials and security personnel are also citizens who understand the economic hardship confronting the country. They must allow the will of the people to prevail,” Obi said.
The NDC candidate also raised the alarm over possible manipulation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV), saying his supporters would be better prepared this time to ensure electronic transmission of results is not disrupted.
“There will be so many IReVs this time. This time around, if there is a network glitch, we will give them another one that has no glitch.
“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 declared.
He argued that allowing electoral irregularities to continue would worsen the hardship already facing Nigerians and undermine democracy.
His running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, warned parties against assuming that controlling many state governments guarantees victory in 2027.
Citing former President Goodluck Jonathan’s defeat in 2015, he said incumbency is not a guarantee.
“That was a very big mistake,” Kwankwaso said, referring to those who think having “over 30 governors” means they cannot lose.
The former Kano State governor criticised the performance of several governors, especially in the North, saying poor service delivery has made it difficult for them to campaign.
He also questioned what states and local government areas have done with increased allocations, linking the failure to worsening insecurity and poverty in the North.
Also speaking, NDC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, pledged the party’s commitment to the campaign.
“We are not afraid. Courage is not the absence of fear, but fear that has set us free,” he said, expressing confidence that Nigeria can still be turned around.