Presidential hopeful Peter Obi has urged Nigerians to take direct responsibility for safeguarding their votes during the 2027 general election, insisting that citizens must remain at polling units until results are properly counted and transmitted.
Speaking during a visit to the University of the Niger, Obi said credible elections would only be possible if voters actively monitored the process themselves instead of depending on politicians to deploy agents.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate stated that he would not spend money recruiting polling agents if he secures the presidential ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 election.
According to him, Nigerians have a greater stake in the future of the country than politicians and should therefore defend the integrity of the electoral process.
“Citizens must see vote protection as a civic responsibility,” Obi said.
“Once you cast your ballot, stay behind and ensure the figures are counted correctly and uploaded appropriately before leaving.”
Furthermore, he stressed that he would neither induce voters with money nor finance a nationwide structure of polling agents to supervise elections on his behalf.
“This election should not be about who pays the most money,” he added.
“People should stand up for themselves and for the future they want for their children.”
During the visit to the Anglican-owned institution in Anambra State, Obi announced a donation of N25 million to support infrastructure development within the university.
Addressing questions on why he continues to commit huge financial resources to education despite his presidential ambition, the former Anambra governor argued that investing in schools carries more long-term value than spending heavily on politics.
Obi maintained that national development depends largely on the quality of education available to young people, noting that public service should focus more on improving lives than occupying political office.
“For me, building human capacity is more meaningful than chasing power,” he said.
“Leadership should be measured by the impact made on society, not merely by electoral victories.”
He also recalled a recent intervention at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, where he reportedly assisted the institution’s Dentistry Department with equipment support after students faced difficulties completing their programme requirements.
According to Obi, the intervention helped expand the department’s operational capacity and improved student admissions.
In addition, he praised the Vice Chancellor of the university, Chinedu Nebo, for what he described as years of dedication to academic development and national service.
Obi said Nigeria’s leadership culture would improve if more public officials embraced sacrifice and commitment to education and institutional growth.
Responding to the donation, Nebo disclosed that Obi had supported the establishment of the university during his tenure as governor of Anambra State and had continued to contribute financially to its development over the years.
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