By Precious Mark
The Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi has alleged that members of the academia, the judiciary, the legislature, the legal profession, and the clergy are now aiding the rigging of Nigerian elections.
The former Anambra Governor made this allegations while speaking at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue.
Speaking, Obi said, “So if you look at that and look at what is happening today in Nigeria, where professors are now aiding illiterates to rig elections, where our lawmakers have removed forgery as an offense in electoral matters, where Senior Advocates of Nigeria are defending forgery, and our religious leaders are praying for criminal politicians for blessing, we have a crisis.”
Recalling his own political journey, Obi shared how Nigeria’s judicial system previously upheld justice without personal influence or inducement, noting that a Supreme Court justice whom he had never met authored the landmark judgment that restored his mandate as Anambra State governor.
“I was just talking to somebody sitting here, a judge of the Supreme Court who I never met in my life, but he wrote this judgment that made me governor.”
“I just heard it right here. I said, where will you get that type of judgment in Nigeria today? It’s impossible. I never met her. I met her two years after being governor, and he tapped me and said, I am so and so person, but he wrote my judgment,” Obi revealed.
Highlighting the contrast between past judicial integrity and present realities, Obi recalled being in court for three years challenging his election, during which five Appeal Court judges he had never met ruled in his favor.
“It cannot happen in Nigeria today,” he declared.
Commending former President Goodluck Jonathan for his steadfast commitment to democratic ideals, Obi described him as a true democrat whose post-presidential conduct continues to model selflessness and leadership.
“I have to start by thanking our former president for his consistency in dialogue and discussing democracy. It portrays you as a true democrat, which you’ve lived since you left office,” Obi said.
He further warned that the judiciary has drifted away from safeguarding the true mandate of the electorate, calling for an urgent national reflection to protect future generations.
“Above all, our judges are not thinking for your mandate to stand. So it is a big crisis, and for all of us honest people, it means life is not worth living.”
“It is time for every Nigerian to sit down and ask ourselves, where is our nation going? We need to reverse this, because the abuse we are allowing today will take its revenge on our children,” Obi cautioned.