NDC: No 2027 election if Peter Obi is excluded from ballot — Obioha

The leader of the Njiko Igbo Forum, Rev. Dr. Okechukwu Christopher Obioha, has warned that Nigeria may not successfully conduct the 2027 general election if the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, is prevented from appearing on the ballot.

 

Obioha’s remarks followed Friday’s ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, setting aside an earlier judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.

 

Justice Isah Dashen held that the court’s previous judgment adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC and was not joined in the original suit.

 

Reacting to the ruling, Obioha alleged that public confidence in the judiciary had declined due to what he described as inconsistent decisions. He also accused the current administration of undermining the independence of the judiciary.

 

“The citizens of this country who are looking up to democracy are not looking at the courts at all. We have no regard for the judiciary in Nigeria. The judiciary is full of inconsistencies,” he said.

 

Obioha further claimed that if Obi is prevented from contesting the 2027 presidential election, the polls may not hold.

 

“If Peter Obi is frustrated and is not on the ballot, there will be no election in 2027. That’s not a threat. You can call it prophecy because I’m a reverend, but I’m warning Nigerians,” he said.

 

He also expressed dissatisfaction with the country’s political system, saying many Nigerians were frustrated with the current state of affairs.

 

The NDC has since rejected the Lokoja court ruling and announced plans to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal, maintaining that it remains a registered political party and that its activities will continue pending the outcome of the appeal.