Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has vowed that anyone found rigging an election under his administration would face imprisonment, saying the punishment would apply even if only one vote was manipulated.
Obi made the statement during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, September 24, 2026, while outlining his position on electoral integrity, opposition politics and governance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He said his administration would not tolerate electoral malpractice and would ensure that political parties, including those in opposition, were allowed to operate without harassment.
Obi also said opposition parties would be consulted on matters of national importance, including when major government decisions had to be taken while the president was outside the country.
He said he intended to remain accessible to Nigerians and spend most of his time in the country if elected, arguing that the president should remain physically present, particularly during periods of crisis.
The NDC candidate also criticised what he described as restrictions on political campaigns in some states. He argued that candidates should be allowed to campaign regardless of the political affiliations of state authorities or their opponents.
Obi cited his experience as Anambra governor, recalling instances when opposition politicians were allowed to campaign in the state. He said he supported campaign activities involving former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu.
According to Obi, allowing political opponents to campaign was part of ensuring that voters had the freedom to make their own choices.
Obi addresses Anambra debt dispute
Obi also revisited the ongoing dispute over Anambra State’s financial position when he left office in 2014.
He rejected claims that he left the state with about $123 million in debt and said he did not personally obtain loans or issue bonds on behalf of Anambra during his eight years as governor.
He further claimed that the state had no outstanding salaries, pensions, gratuities or verified obligations to contractors and suppliers when he left office.
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Obi said some of the facilities cited in the debt discussion were concessionary development funds obtained by the Federal Government and subsequently made available to states.
He put Anambra’s foreign debt at about $18 million when he assumed office and approximately $30 million when he left in March 2014.
He also claimed that more than $150 million in dollar-denominated savings had been invested in bonds at the time and generated about $10 million annually.
Obi presented what he described as his handover documents during the interview and urged ARISE NEWS to independently verify the figures with the World Bank and relevant Nigerian banks.
His claims form part of an ongoing public dispute over Anambra’s debt and financial records, with different sides presenting competing accounts of the state’s position.
Obi speaks on Soludo and Tinubu
On his relationship with incumbent Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Obi said there was no personal dispute between them and described Soludo as his respected elder brother.
He also questioned President Bola Tinubu’s absence from Nigeria, arguing that the president’s physical presence was important during periods of national difficulty.
Obi said leadership responsibilities could be delegated, but Nigerians should still know where the president was and why he was away.
Obi rejects reported Kwankwasiyya campaign council
Obi also distanced himself from a reported campaign council associated with the Obedient Kwankwasiyya Movement, saying the group did not have his approval to operate as a parallel political structure.
He said such a body should instead function as a support group.
On possible cooperation among opposition parties ahead of the 2027 election, Obi said he was open to discussions, including arrangements that could involve a presidential candidate stepping aside.
He said his priority was seeing Nigeria function properly rather than being driven solely by the ambition to occupy the presidency.
Obi urged opposition parties to focus on free, fair and credible elections, avoid violence and campaign around issues affecting Nigerians.
His comments come as political parties and prospective candidates position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election.