Obi: Nigerians' failure to own electoral process encourages rigging

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), asserts that Nigerian elections are susceptible to manipulation because citizens do not actively "take ownership" of the electoral process and safeguard their votes. Speaking to Nigerians in Washington, D.C., Obi emphasized that politicians alone cannot ensure free and fair elections without determined voter participation.

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Elections are rigged in Nigeria because Nigerians want it to be rigged. It’s as simple as A, B, C. I will do whatever is possible to protect the votes, but unless Nigerians decide that their votes will count, it will not count.

"Elections are rigged in Nigeria because Nigerians want it to be rigged. It’s as simple as A, B, C," Obi stated. He believes that voters must be resolute in defending the sanctity of their ballots. He urged citizens to remain at their polling stations after casting their votes to monitor the counting process, rather than leaving immediately afterward.

Obi criticized the transactional nature of Nigerian politics, where voters often leave polling units without ensuring their votes are properly counted. He suggested that voters should prioritize monitoring the count over other activities, such as attending night vigils, implying a need for civic vigilance. "So, an average Nigerian will vote and then go home or go to night vigil, whilst his night vigil should actually be to stay and let them count his votes," he explained.

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If you vote and you stay in your polling booth and say that the votes must be counted here, it will be counted, but because our politics is transactional, the average Nigerian doesn’t know who is his problem.

Identifying poor leadership as Nigeria's most significant challenge, Obi argued that the country possesses abundant human and natural resources, which are hindered from driving development by ineffective governance. "Nigeria has only one problem – leadership, political leadership. Every other thing God gave to Nigeria," he remarked.

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So, an average Nigerian will vote and then go home or go to night vigil, whilst his night vigil should actually be to stay and let them count his votes. But he will vote and go to night vigil on Saturday and start praying because he thinks he is the only one that God created, that God will solve all his problems.

Furthermore, Obi pledged to adopt a dialogue-based approach to resolving the various agitations across the nation if elected. He believes that engaging with agitators is essential to understanding the root causes of their demands and formulating sustainable solutions. "Even all agitators, if I’m in government today, I will discuss with them. I will engage with them. I will consult with them. Because I believe that they have a reason for whatever they want to do," he concluded.

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The question you all should ask yourselves today is: What is the problem of Nigeria? Nigeria has only one problem – leadership, political leadership. Every other thing God gave to Nigeria.