“We will rig those who rig it” — Peter Obi vows jail for electoral offenders

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has vowed to take strict action against electoral malpractice, warning that anyone involved in rigging elections under his administration would face jail time.

Speaking on Channels Television, Obi said, “This coming election, we will rig those who rig it.”

He further assured Nigerians that electoral manipulation would not be tolerated if he becomes president.

“And let me assure you number two, if elected the president of Nigeria, nobody will rig election in this country again,” he said.

On electoral reforms, the former Anambra State governor said strengthening political parties and improving electoral processes would be among the first steps towards addressing the problem.

“Because the first thing we need to do is to strengthen our parties, strengthen the processes,” he stated.

Obi also proposed stricter educational requirements for election candidates, insisting that anyone seeking public office must have attended both primary and secondary school.

He warned that anyone who forged academic certificates to contest an election would face imprisonment.

“Any INEC official, anybody who is involved with election under my watch that rigs the election will go to jail,” he said.

He added, “Our law 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. If you didn’t attend any of them or forge your certificate, you go to jail.”

Obi concluded that his administration would uphold the rule of law, stressing that nobody would be above the law and that everyone would be expected to obey it.