Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, has expressed concern over what he sees as the diminishing of democratic values in Nigeria, highlighting the country’s current crisis.
On Tuesday, the former Anambra State governor addressed the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, the capital of Bauchi State, to discuss democracy and governance challenges in Nigeria.
Obi shared his experience of spending three years in court disputing his election as Anambra State governor, mentioning that judges, whom he had never met, ruled in his favor. He remarked that such impartiality seems increasingly unlikely in today’s Nigeria.
He reflected on his court battles, stating, “I was in court for three years challenging my election. Five judges I never met ruled in my favor. This level of fairness is absent in the current Nigerian climate. Even at the Court of Appeal, five judges ruled in my favor. Compare this with today’s situation where professors assist illiterates in election rigging, lawmakers have removed forgery as an electoral offence, Senior Advocates defend forgery, and religious leaders pray for politicians with criminal records. We are facing a crisis. Moreover, our judges now act based on external influences,” Obi explained.
Obi urged Nigerians to reflect on the country’s path and scrutinize its democratic institutions. He emphasized the need to reject practices that undermine democracy and warned about their long-term consequences for future generations.
He stressed, “We need to change course because today’s transgressions will one day affect our children.”
The theme of this year’s GJF Democracy Dialogue was “Beyond elections, can political parties and the judiciary save African democracy?” The event was chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and attended by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former Vice President Namadi Sambo. Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed hosted the event, which also gathered constitutional experts and civil society representatives from across the continent.
