Peter Obi Vows to Jail Anyone Who Rigs Election Under His Government

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has vowed that anyone found guilty of rigging an election under his administration would face prosecution and imprisonment.
Obi made the declaration during an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, September 24, 2026, while speaking on electoral integrity and his vision for Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The former Anambra State governor said his administration would adopt a zero-tolerance approach to electoral malpractice, stressing that the number of votes involved would not determine whether an offence should be punished.
According to him, even the manipulation of a single vote would attract legal consequences.
“If I am the serving president of this country, whoever rig elections will be in jail. Even for one vote, you will be in jail,” Obi said.

Obi also promised that opposition political parties would not be harassed under his administration, saying they would be involved in important decisions affecting the country.

He said governance should be inclusive and that opposition parties should be consulted on major matters of state, including decisions taken when the president travels outside the country.
“No political party will be harassed; we will support them,” he said.

The NDC candidate further said he would prioritise free, fair and credible elections and called for political parties to campaign on issues affecting ordinary Nigerians rather than resorting to violence or other forms of electoral malpractice.

Obi also recalled his experience as governor of Anambra State, saying opposition politicians were allowed to campaign freely in the state during his tenure.

He cited instances involving former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, arguing that allowing political opponents to campaign freely was part of the democratic environment he sought to promote.

His comments come as political parties and presidential hopefuls begin positioning themselves ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with electoral credibility, political participation and the protection of voters’ choices remaining major issues in the political discourse.