Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, has defended Peter Obi’s recent warning against attempts to manipulate votes during the 2027 general election.
Umeh described Obi’s statement as a call to duty and an appeal for Nigerians and electoral authorities to protect the integrity of the ballot, rather than an invitation to anarchy.
Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), had warned that Nigerians would not tolerate attempts to undermine their votes in the 2027 election. He said voters expected their ballots to be properly counted and their choices respected.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Umeh said the statement should not be interpreted as incitement. He argued that Obi was expressing the concerns of voters who want the outcome of the election to accurately reflect the votes cast at polling units.
According to the senator, a transparent electoral process would eliminate the circumstances that could lead to post-election disputes or unrest.
Umeh said the responsibility for preventing electoral manipulation rests primarily with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders involved in conducting and monitoring elections.
He urged electoral officials to ensure that votes are properly counted, recorded and transmitted in accordance with established procedures.
The lawmaker said the use of technology in the electoral process, combined with proper accreditation, voting, sorting, counting and collation, should make it possible for declared results to correspond with the actual votes cast by Nigerians.
He argued that ensuring credibility throughout the electoral process would help to prevent doubts over election results and strengthen public confidence in democracy.
Umeh further said Obi’s warning should be understood as an appeal to Nigerians to remain vigilant and protect the sanctity of their votes.
He maintained that the statement was not a call for violence but a reminder that citizens have a responsibility to defend the integrity of the electoral process through lawful and democratic means.
The senator also warned that attempts to manipulate election results could create the very tension that political leaders and electoral authorities should seek to prevent.
According to him, if elections are conducted transparently and the genuine results are announced, there would be little basis for unrest after the polls.
He therefore shifted the focus from Obi’s remarks to the conduct of the electoral process, arguing that credible elections remain the most effective way to prevent post-election crises.
Umeh’s comments come as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general election, with political parties and candidates already mobilising supporters across the country.
The debate over electoral credibility has remained a major issue in Nigeria, particularly regarding vote counting, result collation and the deployment of technology during elections.
Umeh maintained that politicians and electoral officials should work towards ensuring that Nigerians have confidence in the process and accept the outcome of elections as a genuine reflection of their votes.
He stressed that preventing electoral malpractice would require commitment from INEC, political parties, candidates, security agencies and voters.
The senator concluded that the best way to avoid anarchy was to conduct elections properly, insisting that credible elections would remove the conditions that could generate tension or disputes.
