2027: Umeh Defends Peter Obi’s ‘We Will Count’ Election Warning

Senator Victor Umeh has defended Peter Obi’s warning that Nigerians will resist any attempt to manipulate their votes in the 2027 general election, arguing that the statement was a call for electoral accountability rather than an invitation to anarchy.

Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), had warned at a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt that Nigerians would insist on having their votes counted and their choices respected in the next election.

“Our votes this time must count, and whoever doesn’t count it, we will count the person,” Obi said.

Umeh, who represents Anambra Central Senatorial District, addressed the controversy during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday. He said Obi’s remarks reflected what Nigerian voters expect from the electoral process ahead of 2027.

The senator argued that the statement should be understood as a message to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other election stakeholders to ensure that votes are properly counted, collated and reflected in the final results.

“I think the statement he made is not extreme. It is not inciting in any form. He merely stated what the Nigerian electorate will be expecting in 2027,” Umeh said.

He maintained that a transparent election would leave little room for tension or disputes, saying the best way to prevent post-election unrest was to ensure that the electoral process was credible from polling units through the final declaration.

Umeh also urged voters and election officials to protect the integrity of the ballot by ensuring that votes are properly recorded and transmitted through the approved process. He said the use of electoral technology, alongside proper accreditation, voting, sorting, counting and collation, should help ensure that declared results match the ballots cast.

The senator rejected suggestions that Obi’s comments could trigger anarchy, arguing instead that disputed or manipulated results would be more likely to create tension. “When you manipulate and give false results, you are the one inviting the anarchy not Peter Obi, who is saying that the right thing should be done,” he said.

Umeh described Obi’s remarks as “a call to duty” and an effort to awaken public consciousness around protecting the ballot box. He said Nigerians would have fewer reasons to question election results if electoral authorities carried out their responsibilities transparently and respected the votes cast.