September 4, 2026 | Port Harcourt
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has declared that he is prepared to risk his life to protect his votes in the 2027 presidential election.
Obi made the statement on Thursday during a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he called on Nigerians to actively protect the integrity of the election and prevent a repeat of what he described as irregularities during the 2023 polls.
Speaking at the event, tagged “Obi Talks Nigeria,” the former Anambra State governor said Nigerians would not allow intimidation at polling units during the next election.
According to Obi, voters must organise themselves to ensure that election officials or political actors do not manipulate the process.
“Nobody will intimidate us again at the polling booth,” Obi said, arguing that the number of voters at most polling units would be significantly higher than the number of officials present.
Obi warns against election manipulation
Obi also raised concerns about possible attempts to manipulate the electronic transmission and collation of election results through the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
He said his supporters would be better prepared to respond to possible technical problems during the 2027 election.
The NDC presidential candidate stressed that Nigerians must not allow technical issues or other challenges in the electoral process to undermine their votes.
He said allowing electoral problems to persist would continue to affect the country’s development and the lives of its citizens.
‘I’m ready to die too’
While urging Nigerians to participate actively in protecting their votes, Obi said he was equally prepared to make personal sacrifices for the country’s future.
“Somebody said, ‘We are ready to die.’ Let me tell you, I’m ready to die too,” he said.
He added that his campaign would focus on coordination and ensuring that voters were prepared to defend the integrity of the electoral process at polling units.
Kwankwaso urges Nigerians to choose carefully
Also speaking at the event, NDC Vice Presidential Candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso urged Nigerians to avoid repeating what he described as past mistakes when choosing political leaders.
Kwankwaso said the 2027 election presented an opportunity for Nigerians to make what he described as the right choice for the country.
He cited the 2015 presidential election, when an incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan, lost to Muhammadu Buhari, as an example of why political parties should not assume that control of several states automatically guarantees victory at the presidential level.
According to Kwankwaso, Nigerians should not allow the number of governors controlled by a political party to determine their expectations about the outcome of the presidential election.
The comments come as political activities and mobilisation intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
