…Says Nigerians’ votes must count

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, yesterday charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resist political manipulation and ensure that Nigerians’ votes count in the 2027 general elections.

Peter Obi spoke in Ogugu, Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, during a thank-you tour organised to appreciate supporters following the emergence of High Chief Peter Ameh as the NDC’s Kogi East senatorial candidate.

The former Anambra State governor, who was received by a large crowd of supporters, urged INEC to conduct the 2027 elections in a free, fair and transparent manner, stressing that the will of the electorate must be respected.

He also urged Nigerians to take responsibility for protecting their votes, saying the integrity of the electoral process ultimately depends on citizens ensuring that their ballots are counted and their choices reflected in the results.

“I am not worried about what the outcome of the 2027 General Election will be. What worries me is the people and how they will protect their votes on election day. The votes of the people must be counted,” Obi told journalists.

Obi also called for an issue-based presidential campaign, challenging candidates to move beyond political rhetoric and engage Nigerians directly on the problems confronting their communities.

“What is most important is that we want this campaign to be issue-based. We want all candidates to go round Nigeria and ask questions about the challenges confronting the people,” he said.

He said his nationwide engagements had given him the opportunity to hear directly from Nigerians, particularly on education, insecurity, poverty, unemployment and food production.

“When I was coming to Kogi State today, I stopped at Obollo-afor, Otukpa Junction, and asked some of our elderly people what their challenges were. This is what I want other presidential candidates to do,” he said.

According to Obi, the next government must prioritise getting children into school, securing communities and creating opportunities for Nigerians to earn decent livelihoods.

He also decried the level of hunger and poverty in the country, saying Nigeria’s vast agricultural potential could be harnessed to improve food security if farmers received adequate support.

“Look at our rural areas with huge farmlands. Nobody is supporting the farmers in all ramifications to enable them to produce the food we need to feed the nation,” he said.

The NDC candidate urged voters to assess political candidates on the basis of competence, capacity, character, compassion and commitment to national development rather than sentiment or party affiliation.

Ameh, the NDC’s Kogi East senatorial candidate, said the region had no justification to remain impoverished despite its fertile land and abundant mineral resources.

He lamented the deplorable state of roads in coal-producing communities, noting that the infrastructure remained inadequate despite the daily movement of hundreds of trucks from mining sites.

Ameh also criticised the condition of primary healthcare facilities and other social infrastructure in Kogi East.

He urged voters to scrutinise the records, competence and capacity of candidates before casting their ballots, stressing that effective representation was essential to securing better roads, schools, healthcare and other basic amenities.

He also charged the electorate to vote and protect their votes in 2027, saying credible representation remained critical to the development of the region.