Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has taken a swipe at what he called the increasing involvement of highly educated Nigerians in electoral malpractice, accusing some professors, senior lawyers and other professionals of lending their expertise to efforts that undermine democracy.
Obi alleged that a section of Nigeria’s academic and legal elite had become willing collaborators in manipulating elections, using their knowledge and standing to give cover to actions that erode public trust in the democratic process.
The former Anambra State governor made the remarks while speaking on the state of Nigeria’s democracy and the challenges facing the country’s electoral system.
He described it as particularly troubling that people who ought to be custodians of knowledge, justice and democratic values would allegedly help individuals with little understanding of governance to subvert electoral processes.
According to him, the situation worsens when legal practitioners show up in court to defend controversial actions, including cases involving forged documents and other electoral infractions.
Obi insisted that Nigeria’s democracy cannot grow as long as elections are treated as battles to be won by any means necessary, rather than a process through which citizens freely choose their leaders.
He called on professionals, especially those in academia and the legal profession, to stand for integrity and protect democratic institutions instead of offering intellectual or legal cover for electoral fraud.
The Labour Party chieftain also stressed the need for Nigerians to demand greater accountability from political actors and the institutions saddled with conducting and adjudicating elections.
He argued that credible elections remain central to solving Nigeria’s governance problems, warning that continued manipulation of the electoral process would keep eroding public confidence in democracy.
Obi’s comments come amid renewed political jostling ahead of the 2027 general elections, with parties and politicians already positioning for the next round of contests.
He urged Nigerians to stay vigilant and resist any attempt to undermine the electoral process, insisting that the country’s future must not be left in the hands of electoral manipulators or powerful individuals seeking to subvert the people’s will.
The former presidential candidate has consistently pushed for electoral reforms, greater transparency and stronger institutions as key steps toward improving governance and restoring public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.
His latest comments have again drawn attention to the role political, legal and professional elites play in shaping — and sometimes distorting — Nigeria’s electoral environment.
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