The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has clarified his recent statement that he was prepared to “die” for his votes, saying the remark was symbolic and not a call for violence.
Obi made the clarification on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television, explaining that the comment was made in response to a participant at a recent gathering in Port Harcourt who said Nigerians were prepared to die to defend their votes.
The former Anambra State governor said his response was intended to demonstrate his commitment to protecting the integrity of votes cast by Nigerians and ensuring they are properly counted.
“Well, you see, people didn’t listen. What I did in Port Harcourt is more of listening to the people. It wasn’t me talking. They were asking questions,” Obi said.
He added, “And one of them said, we are prepared to die this time to defend our votes. And I said to encourage them that I’m prepared to die with them. It’s symbolic.”
Obi stressed that his position was centred on ensuring that votes counted at polling units were accurately recorded and transmitted.
“What we are saying is that we are prepared to ensure that our vote counts, and it must count,” he said.
The comment had generated reactions after Obi told supporters in Port Harcourt that he was prepared to die to protect his votes ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Explaining how his campaign intended to safeguard the electoral process, Obi said his team would monitor results from polling units and transmit them to its situation room.
“We must make sure that at every polling unit, the votes are counted, the votes are recorded properly, the votes are transmitted properly,” he said.
Obi also disclosed plans for what he described as a dual transmission system, under which results would be sent through the official channel while also being transmitted to his team’s situation room for monitoring.
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He rejected suggestions that such an arrangement would amount to establishing a parallel electoral system.
“No, not at all. All we are saying is that this time around, we will make sure that in every polling unit, we must have a system that transmits to our own situation room the correct results,” he said.
According to Obi, the proposed monitoring system would help prevent a situation where results announced at higher levels do not correspond with those recorded at polling units.
“Our task is to make sure that the right things are done,” he said.
The NDC candidate maintained that his proposed alternative system would be used to monitor and record results rather than conduct a parallel election.
He also argued that Nigeria could conduct free and transparent elections, pointing to Ghana as an example.
“There’s nothing difficult in having a simple, free, transparent election. It happens in Ghana, across here. It happens everywhere,” Obi said.
“So why would we always be involved in something that is negative?” he asked.
Obi further framed the 2027 presidential election as a contest centred on citizens and the performance of government rather than party politics.
“This election, remember, is not about parties. It’s people versus the government. Nigeria was getting it right this time,” he said.