Rev. Dr. Okechukwu Christopher Obioha, leader of the Njiko Igbo Forum, has warned that excluding Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi from the 2027 presidential ballot could undermine Nigeria’s electoral process.
According to Daily Post, Obioha made the remarks following a Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). The judgment, delivered by Justice Isah Dashen, stemmed from a suit by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of a party emblem later adopted by the NDC.
Reacting to the ruling, Obioha expressed concern over what he described as declining public confidence in the judiciary, alleging that conflicting court decisions have weakened trust in the justice system.
He stressed that allowing all eligible candidates to participate freely is essential to preserving Nigeria’s democracy and maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
“If Peter Obi is frustrated and is not on the ballot, there will be no election in 2027. That’s not a threat. It is going to work out that way. If you like, you can call it prophecy. I’m a reverend. Call it anything, but I’m just warning Nigerians,” Obioha said.
