FORMER Anambra State governor and presidential hopeful for 2027 under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Peter Obi, has vowed to challenge the newly passed 2026 Electoral Act in court.
He alleged that the passage of the Electoral Act, 2026, was deliberately designed to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 general election.
Obi made the declaration on Saturday during the flag-off of the membership mobilisation, registration and revalidation exercise of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) held in Awka, the state capital.
The former Labour Party presidential (LP) candidate during the 2023 elections said the provisions of the new law were skewed in a manner that could facilitate electoral manipulations.
According to him, “All the laws being hurriedly churned out now are simply aimed at enabling them to snatch the 2027 presidential election and run away with it.”
He insisted that “this time we will catch them” and warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against interfering in the internal affairs of political parties.
While accusing INEC of dictating to political parties by issuing guidelines on how to choose candidates, Obi alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled federal government was perfecting plans to “snatch and run” with the results of the coming 2027 general election, saying that it was the same thing the party did with the last presidential election.
He therefore urged INEC to remain neutral and concentrate on its constitutional role of conducting credible elections.
“INEC is setting a trap for political parties by issuing guidelines for selection of candidates, and also frustrating freedom of association for political parties.
“INEC is a referee in an election, and a referee in a match doesn’t dictate to the teams how they should select their players. INEC should restrict itself to conducting a free, fair and transparent election,” the ADC chieftain charged.
Obi also called on members and supporters of the ADC across the state to register at their respective wards, urging them to mobilise others to join the party.
“Go to your wards and register. Be fishers of men,” the 2027 presidential hopeful charged.
Obi later went to his Agulu Ward 11 in Anaocha Local Government Area of the state to formally register as a member of the ADC.
He further vowed to mobilise Nigerians, along with other like-minded individuals across the country, to ensure that the coming general election was not hijacked.
Obi posited that Nigeria, as it is today, is among the countries of the world nobody would wish to live in.
He added that virtually all the critical sectors of the country that drive development and promote human wellbeing, including power, health, education and security, are in a comatose state, and that the sad situation is because of bad leadership.
