The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to take ownership of the electoral process.
Obi made the remarks during an interaction with Nigerians in Washington, D.C., United States.
According to the former Anambra State governor, elections are often manipulated because citizens fail to actively protect their votes.
He argued that politicians alone cannot guarantee credible elections without public participation.
Obi said voters must remain at polling units after casting their ballots to monitor the counting process.
According to him, votes are more likely to count when citizens insist on transparency at the polling level.
He criticised what he described as the transactional nature of Nigerian politics.
The former governor said many voters leave polling centres immediately after voting instead of safeguarding the process.
Obi urged citizens to become more involved in ensuring electoral integrity.
He maintained that Nigeria’s greatest challenge remains poor political leadership.
According to him, the country possesses abundant human and natural resources needed for development.
Obi argued that addressing leadership deficiencies would unlock Nigeria’s full potential.
He called on Nigerians to demand accountable and competent leadership through the ballot box.
The former governor stressed that meaningful national change depends on active civic participation.
Speaking on national unity, Obi said dialogue remains the best approach to resolving agitations across the country.
He pledged to engage and consult with aggrieved groups if given the opportunity to lead.
According to him, understanding the concerns of agitators is essential to finding lasting solutions.
Obi also reiterated his position on the continued detention of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
He maintained that there is no justification for Kanu’s prolonged detention.
The former governor said he has consistently advocated for Kanu’s release.
Obi argued that expressing opinions or making critical statements should not automatically attract criminal sanctions.
Drawing from his political experience, he noted that public figures are frequently subjected to criticism and name-calling.
According to him, criticism is part of democratic engagement and should not be treated as a criminal offence.
He urged Nigerians to remain committed to protecting democracy through active participation and vigilance during elections.
