The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has warned that anybody discovered responsible of rigging elections in Nigeria underneath his administration would face prosecution and imprisonment if he wins the 2027 presidential election.
Obi issued the warning on Wednesday throughout an NDC city corridor assembly in Nasarawa State, the place he addressed social gathering supporters on electoral integrity and the necessity to strengthen the nation’s electoral system.
Responding to a query on election rigging, the previous Anambra State governor mentioned his social gathering wouldn’t permit electoral manipulation to go unchallenged within the 2027 basic election.
“You didn’t ask about what we are going to do if people rig election next year. Let me assure you, number one, this coming election, we will rig those who rig it,” Obi mentioned.
He added that, if elected president, he would reform the electoral course of and strengthen political events to stop election rigging.
“And let me assure you number two, if I’m elected the President of Nigeria, nobody will rig election in this country again because the first thing we need to do is to strengthen our parties, strengthen the process,” he mentioned.
Obi additionally referred to as for stricter eligibility necessities for political candidates, proposing that anybody in search of elective workplace ought to have attended major and secondary college.
“Our laws will be strict. For you to contest election, you must have attended a primary school, you must have attended a secondary school and it will be visible, it will be clear,” he mentioned.
He warned that anybody who cast tutorial certificates or falsely claimed to own the required {qualifications} would face imprisonment.
“If you didn’t attend any of them or forge your certificate, you go to jail,” Obi mentioned.
The NDC presidential candidate prolonged the warning to officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and different people concerned in election administration, insisting that anybody discovered responsible of electoral malpractice underneath his administration can be prosecuted.
“Any INEC official, anybody who is involved with elections under my watch that rigs elections will go to jail,” he declared.
Obi mentioned his proposed reforms can be guided by the rule of legislation, stressing that everybody, no matter standing or place, should be held accountable.
“Under my watch, Nigeria must be a country that has a law, and both from the number one person to the last person must obey the rule of law,” he mentioned.
“Nobody must be above the law; nobody will behave rascally.”
He mentioned his presidential ambition was pushed by the will to remodel Nigeria and set up a system the place electoral legal guidelines and democratic rules are revered.
“That’s why we are doing what we are doing. We want to change Nigeria. A new Nigeria is possible, and that new Nigeria will be OK,” Obi added.
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