Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, on Tuesday criticized what he described as a deepening erosion of democratic integrity in Nigeria, alleging that university professors are now helping unlettered actors rig elections.
Speaking at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, held under the theme “Beyond Elections, Can Political Parties and the Judiciary Save African Democracy?”, the former Anambra governor pointed to his own drawn-out legal battle over a past election loss as evidence of judicial inconsistency. He recalled that five Court of Appeal judges he had never personally met eventually ruled in his favor after three years of litigation — something he argued would be unlikely to happen in Nigeria today.
Obi also criticized lawmakers for removing forgery as an offence in electoral matters, and questioned the role of Senior Advocates of Nigeria who represent clients accused of electoral wrongdoing. He further rebuked some religious leaders for what he described as effectively backing politicians facing criminal allegations.
Calling these developments signs of a broader institutional crisis rather than a one-off problem, Obi said the judiciary appeared to have pledged loyalty to contested election outcomes rather than upholding accountability. He warned that continued tolerance of such practices would eventually harm future generations, and urged Nigerians to reverse the trend.
The dialogue was chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and attended by former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Namadi Sambo, host Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and various constitutional experts and civil society figures from across Africa.
