Obi Sets Vote-Buying Rule For 2027

Obi Sets Vote-Buying Rule For 2027

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said his ticket with Rabiu Kwankwaso will not use money to induce voters or pay party agents to influence the outcome of the 2027 elections.

Obi made the statement while responding to questions at a town hall meeting in Sokoto, where he appeared alongside Kwankwaso.

He described the practice of giving money to voters on election day as vote-buying and linked it to the persistence of poverty in the country.

“We are not ready to give money to party agents to entice voters. That is vote-buying, and it is part of the reason why poverty continues to rise in the country,” Obi said.

The former Anambra State governor also assured participants that adequate security measures would be put in place to protect voters during the election.

He said the process should allow votes to be properly counted and recorded, amid longstanding concerns over voter intimidation and the integrity of election results.

Obi also spoke about corruption, saying a government led by him and Kwankwaso would target corruption associated with the fuel subsidy system.

“We will eradicate corruption, especially the one related to fuel subsidy, before we find a way to return subsidy in another dimension,” he said.

The Sokoto meeting was also attended by supporters of the Obi-Kwankwaso movement and other political stakeholders.

The movement’s Sokoto coordinator, Nasiru Tambuwal, criticised the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket adopted by the All Progressives Congress, arguing that presidential tickets since the return to democratic rule in 1999 had generally reflected a Muslim-Christian combination.

Kwankwaso, Obi’s running mate, said the proposed administration would focus on governance and the welfare of Nigerians.

“The Obi/Kwankwaso government is ready to work for the masses of this country,” Kwankwaso said.

The latest declaration comes as political parties and presidential contenders begin laying out their positions ahead of the 2027 general elections.