Peter Obi Demands Urgent Electoral Reforms, Insists Nigeria Must Become True Giant of Africa
The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has stressed that Nigeria must decisively confront its governance challenges and reclaim its standing as the true giant of Africa, PulseNets learnt.
In a post shared on X on Tuesday, the former Anambra State governor referenced his participation in a peaceful protest at the National Assembly over the Senate’s rejection of electronic transmission of election results, which took place on Monday, information obtained by PulseNets shows.
Obi noted that the message from demonstrators was unmistakable, insisting that their demands on the ongoing Electoral Act Amendment process before the National Assembly were firm and non-negotiable.
In the post titled “Identifying with the People Peacefully for Electoral Integrity,” Obi argued that beyond meeting basic eligibility criteria, individuals seeking elective office must subject themselves to open campaigns, public scrutiny, and public debates as required by law.
He wrote:
“Yesterday, February 9th, I participated in a peaceful protest at the National Assembly to demand urgent electoral reforms that truly reflect the will of the Nigerian people.
“Our demands were clear and non-negotiable: anyone seeking to hold titles such as Honourable, Distinguished, or Excellency must emerge through a transparent and honourable process. Aspirants for public office should provide verifiable records of their primary, secondary, and tertiary education, along with fulfilling other constitutional requirements such as age and qualifications. No one should aspire to lead without having gone through due process.
“Beyond eligibility, candidates must engage in open campaigns, public scrutiny, and debates as mandated by law. Most importantly, election results must be transmitted electronically and in real time to protect the people’s mandate and eliminate manipulation,” Obi wrote on X.
Reacting to arguments that inadequate network coverage in some states makes real-time transmission impractical, Obi dismissed such claims as outdated and unacceptable, PulseNets reported.
According to him:
“Financial institutions operate nationwide through secure digital networks to conduct transactions and collect taxes on a daily basis. If banking systems function seamlessly, our electoral system can and should do the same.
“Nigeria must stop being a so-called Giant of Africa that disgraces the continent and instead become a beacon of exemplary governance, beginning with credible elections.
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“We owe the younger generation a nation built on order, justice, and trust—not one mired in chaos and impunity. As the agitation continues, I urge our youth, who turned out in large numbers, to remain steadfast and not relent until the necessary reforms are achieved.
“I remain firmly committed to the vision of a New Nigeria—one that is not only possible, but inevitable if we stand and act together,” Obi added.
