The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to take an active role in protecting their votes during the 2027 presidential election, stressing the need for voters to remain at polling units until ballots are counted.
Obi made the call during a Global Digital Townhall streamed through Zoom, YouTube and other social media platforms, where he interacted with Nigerians at home and in the diaspora on voter mobilisation, election security and ways of safeguarding the electoral process.
The former Anambra State governor urged Nigerians who are eligible to vote to mobilise others in their communities and ensure that polling units are adequately covered by trained party agents.
He stressed that voting alone would not be enough if citizens failed to monitor the process through the counting and declaration of results at their respective polling units.
“We must stay and insist that votes must count,” Obi said.
He disclosed that his campaign organisation was working to strengthen its network of polling agents across the country as part of efforts to ensure that votes cast for the NDC and other participating parties are properly documented.
Obi also said his political movement was open to working with other political parties and stakeholders committed to achieving free, fair and credible elections in 2027.
According to him, protecting the electoral process requires citizens to remain vigilant and participate actively rather than leaving the responsibility entirely to political parties or election officials.
The NDC candidate also cautioned Nigerians against allowing financial inducement or intimidation to determine their choices at the polls.
He argued that accepting money from politicians in exchange for votes could ultimately work against the interests of the voters, as funds used for vote buying could otherwise be deployed to provide public services.
“If you collect money from them, that is the money they would have used in security, hospitals, education,” Obi said.
He urged voters to consider the long-term consequences of their electoral decisions and resist attempts to manipulate their choices through financial inducement or fear.
Obi further called for stronger measures to tackle insecurity across the country, saying security agencies must be adequately equipped and supported to perform their duties effectively.
He said security personnel require the necessary logistics, equipment and welfare packages to enable them to protect citizens and maintain peace during and after elections.
“We have security agencies. They must work. We must make sure we provide them with the logistics needed to work,” he said.
The former Anambra governor also emphasised the importance of taking care of the families of security personnel who lose their lives or become unavailable in the line of duty.
He said Nigeria needed leadership that would take responsibility for national security and lead efforts to protect citizens.
“We want a president who will lead from the front,” Obi stated.
On election day, the NDC presidential candidate urged voters not to leave polling units immediately after casting their ballots.
He advised them to remain at the polling centres until votes are counted and the results are properly recorded, describing citizens’ presence at the polling units as an important part of protecting the integrity of the electoral process.
The town hall is part of Obi’s growing mobilisation campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with voter participation, grassroots mobilisation, election security and protection of votes emerging as major themes of his engagements with Nigerians.
Obi’s message comes as political parties and candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with voter mobilisation expected to become increasingly prominent as the country moves closer to the polls.
He urged Nigerians to see the election as an opportunity to determine the country’s direction and to participate responsibly by voting, monitoring the process and ensuring that their ballots are duly counted.
