Peter Obi Decries Erosion of Nigeria’s Electoral and Judicial Integrity at Democracy Dialogue
At the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, delivered a sharp critique of Nigeria’s electoral and judicial institutions.
Obi recounted his past experience at the Court of Appeal, where five impartial judges upheld his mandate, contrasting it with what he described as today’s troubling decline in institutional integrity.
He accused professors of enabling electoral malpractice, lawmakers of diluting electoral laws by removing forgery as an offence, and Senior Advocates of Nigeria of defending forgery in court. He further lamented that religious leaders now pray for corrupt politicians, while some judges openly align themselves with partisan interests.
“I went to the Court of Appeal; five judges I had never met gave judgment in my favour. So, if you look at that and look at what is happening today in Nigeria, where professors are now aiding illiterates to rig elections, Where lawmakers have removed forgery as an offence in electoral matters. And Senior Advocates of Nigeria are defending forgery. Our religious leaders are now praying for criminal politicians for blessing. We have a crisis. And above all, our judges are now singing, On your mandate we stand,’” Obi said.
According to Obi, these developments reflect a deep institutional crisis undermining Nigeria’s democracy, one that urgently requires reversal to restore credibility in the nation’s electoral and judicial systems.
