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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

2027: Peter Obi Urges Nigerians to Defend Votes Amidst Worsening Poverty

From ThisDay · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Presidential candidate Peter Obi urged Nigerians to defend their votes in the 2027 general elections, stating the outcome depends on the electorate's resolve.
  • Obi lamented the worsening poverty and hunger in Nigeria, calling the quest to change the country an "ultimate sacrifice."
  • He expressed confidence not solely in the electoral commission but in Nigerians' determination to ensure their votes count amidst economic hardship.

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 general elections, has called on Nigerians to actively defend their votes. He emphasized that the election's outcome hinges on the electorate's determination rather than solely on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It is not about confidence in INEC. Do I still have confidence in the people? Because it is the people that will determine what INEC will do. If the people insist that their votes will count, their votes will count.

— Peter ObiExpressing his belief in the power of the electorate to influence election outcomes.

Obi made these remarks after attending a burial service in Ebonyi State. He shared his longstanding relationship with Chief Linus Okorie, the NDC senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, noting their previous collaboration within the Labour Party. "We have worked together before in the Labour Party and now we are in the NDC. That shows we have a close relationship," Obi said, offering condolences for the passing of Okorie's father.

Anybody talking about changing Nigeria today is making the ultimate sacrifice because we cannot continue like this.

— Peter ObiDescribing the difficulty and significance of seeking to change Nigeria's current direction.

Expressing his confidence, Obi stated, "It is not about confidence in INEC. Do I still have confidence in the people? Because it is the people that will determine what INEC will do. If the people insist that their votes will count, their votes will count." He urged Nigerians to consider the nation's trajectory and the future prospects for their children, questioning the sustainability of the current direction.

Everyday poverty is increasing. Everyday hunger is increasing. You don’t even need World Bank reports to know this because you can see it in the villages.

— Peter ObiLamenting the worsening economic situation and widespread hunger in the country.

The former Anambra State governor also highlighted the severe economic downturn, describing poverty and hunger as reaching alarming levels. "Everyday poverty is increasing. Everyday hunger is increasing. You don’t even need World Bank reports to know this because you can see it in the villages," he stated, noting that approximately 70 million Nigerians face acute hunger. Obi believes that the pervasive hunger and deprivation already constitute a form of harassment for Nigerians, overshadowing any potential political intimidation.

For me, every Nigerian is already being harassed by hunger.

— Peter ObiIllustrating the severity of economic hardship faced by the population.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ThisDay in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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