- Peter Obi comments on protecting votes in 2027
- Statement made at Obidient conference in Uyo
- Remark triggers mixed reactions online
- INEC releases 2027 election timetable
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has stirred debate after declaring that his supporters would resist any attempt to undermine their votes in the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the remark while speaking at an ongoing Obidient conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
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“In that polling booth in 2027, if they don’t count it, we will count the person,” Obi said.
The comment quickly gained traction on social media and within political circles, attracting mixed interpretations. While many supporters described the statement as a call for vigilance and electoral accountability, critics argued that the language could be perceived as confrontational if left without further clarification.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, where he polled over six million votes nationwide. He finished third behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.
Despite his position in the race, Obi recorded strong support among young and urban voters, securing victories in Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory and across the South-East.
In recent political developments, Obi has aligned with the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress, where he has declared his intention to seek the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 elections.
Other prominent figures reportedly interested in the ADC ticket include Rotimi Amaechi and Atiku Abubakar.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed February 20, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan announced the dates on Friday during a press briefing in Abuja. He added that governorship and state House of Assembly elections would hold on March 6, 2027.
According to him, the timetable complies with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which stipulate the timeframe for conducting elections ahead of the expiration of current officeholders’ tenures in May and June 2027.