Peter Obi has issued a strong condemnation of the Senate’s decision to reject mandatory electronic transmission of election results, describing the move as a deliberate attack on Nigeria’s democratic integrity.
In a statement on Tuesday, Obi said he had delayed commenting on the controversy out of respect for the more than 150 people who lost their lives in the Kwara tragedy, which he described as a heartbreaking national loss that requires collective mourning.
Obi said the refusal to approve electronic transmission ahead of the 2027 election represents a calculated attempt to weaken transparency and undermine credible polls. According to him, the same pattern of manipulation and uncertainty that affected the 2023 general election stemmed from the refusal to fully deploy electronic transmission, followed by what he termed a fabricated claim of a “glitch.”
He criticised the political class for resisting reforms that have already been embraced by several African countries seeking to strengthen their electoral systems. He argued that Nigeria, instead of leading the continent, continues to fall behind because its leaders deliberately block reforms that would promote order and accountability.
Obi said the Senate’s action entrenches confusion and disorder, driven by what he called a small group determined to maintain control at the expense of national progress. He added that leaders should be focused on building a credible and functional nation for future generations rather than feeding what he described as a culture of chaos.
Referencing past remarks by international figures who branded Nigeria “fantastically corrupt” and a “now disgraced nation,” Obi said the country continues to validate these criticisms each time reforms are rejected. He warned that the electoral improprieties seen in 2023 will not be accepted in 2027, urging Nigerians to prepare to resist any attempt to derail the nation’s democratic future.
He also called on the international community to pay close attention to what he sees as early signs of future election manipulation. Obi concluded by insisting that a new and better Nigeria remains achievable, but only if citizens unite to defend transparency and democratic order.
