2027: I’ll Accept Defeat If Election Is Free, Fair — Peter Obi
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has said he will concede defeat in the 2027 presidential election if the poll is free, fair and credible. Obi made the statement in an interview aired on Arise TV on Thursday, saying he would respect the decision of Nigerians if they chose another candidate. According to him, democracy requires candidates to accept the will of the people when an election is properly conducted. However, Obi maintained his position that he won the 2023 presidential election, insisting that those responsible for conducting the poll were aware of what happened. He said the records surrounding the election, including what he described as a glitch during the process, were known to those who conducted it. Obi also rejected the idea that presidential elections should be determined by a “turn-by-turn” arrangement based on regional, ethnic or religious considerations.
The NDC candidate said he was qualified to seek the presidency and had acquired extensive educational and international experience that, in his view, prepared him for the position. He cited studies at institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Columbia and Kellogg, challenging anyone who questions his qualifications to provide evidence, saying he would withdraw from the race if any of his certificates were found to be false. Obi also criticised what he described as the lack of youth representation in Nigeria’s presidency since independence. He noted that no person born after 1960 had served as president, despite repeated descriptions of young Nigerians as the leaders of tomorrow. Obi argued that presidential elections should be based on competence and the ability to address the country’s challenges rather than tribe or religion, saying he believes he has the capacity to lead Nigeria in what he considers the right direction.
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