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Demands Verification of Candidates’ Educational Qualification ahead of Poll
- Safiu Kehinde
Former Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has vowed to resist the rigging of the 2027 general election by every possible legal means.
Obi made the vow while speaking after his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu on Wednesday.
The former Anambra state governor expressed readiness of the ADC to rescue Nigeria and ensure proper socio-economic development in the country.
“Today is an important day. Today is the last day of 2025. We are ending this year with the hope that in 2026, we will begin a journey of rescue of our country for proper socio-economic development that will be unifying and inclusive.
“We have all watched those who benefitted from our democracy becoming accessories to destroy our democracy either through coercion and gangsterism against the opposition.
“We cannot allow this to happen. We will resist it. We’ve now seen people who benefitted from our democracy now being part of people who celebrated electoral fraud.
“We are now saying that those who are planning to rig election in Nigeria come 2027, we will resist it by every means lawful and legitimate.” He said.
While blaming the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for electoral fraud in the country, Obi charged the commission commence verification of all Presidential candidate’s educational qualification.
“This happened because of weak institutions like INEC. We are urging them that this coming election, we must do whatever it is to follow the rules and regulations, starting by educational qualification,
“We can no longer be where they asking whether this person went to school or not.
We have one year now to determine who went to school and who didn’t go to school. We have one year now for people to tell us the school they attended.
“We don’t want it to be something we go to court after election, and they say it is pre-election matter. We have pre-election situation now to verify everybody who wants to contest election for Nigeria.” He said.
Obi further harped on the need for unity in order to collectively vote for competent leadership.
“We must follow that. Our commitment is about Nigeria. We are committed to a better Nigeria.
“Two things are critical if we are going to turn around Nigeria. We must stay united. Nigeria today is not united.
“We must ensure the unity of the country. We must ensure we have competent leadership.” He added.