BAUCHI — Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has raised fresh concerns over what he described as the alarming deterioration of democratic values and institutions in Nigeria.
Obi spoke on Tuesday at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, where he delivered a strong critique of the country’s electoral system and the growing involvement of professionals and institutions that should ordinarily protect democracy.
The former Anambra State governor expressed particular concern over the alleged involvement of university professors in electoral malpractice, arguing that academics who should be defending democratic principles are increasingly becoming part of the machinery that undermines elections.
According to reports from the event, Obi lamented that highly educated Nigerians were allegedly assisting less-educated political actors to manipulate electoral processes.
Obi questions the state of Nigeria’s institutions
Obi’s intervention went beyond electoral malpractice. He raised concerns about the broader weakening of institutions responsible for protecting democracy, including the judiciary and other pillars of constitutional governance.
He argued that when institutions become compromised, elections can no longer serve as a reliable mechanism for citizens to choose their leaders.
Reports from the dialogue also indicate that Obi criticised what he portrayed as the growing politicisation of institutions and the failure of influential professionals to defend democratic values when they come under pressure.
His remarks come against the backdrop of increasing political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition parties and political actors intensifying campaigns around electoral reforms, institutional independence and the protection of voters’ mandates.
A warning ahead of 2027
Obi’s central message was that Nigeria’s democratic crisis cannot be resolved merely through political slogans or changes of political actors.
He called attention to the responsibility of professionals, academics, religious leaders, judges and other influential Nigerians to defend the principles upon which democracy rests.
The former governor’s position places particular emphasis on the integrity of the electoral process, suggesting that credible elections require not only an independent electoral commission but also citizens and professionals willing to resist manipulation.
Obi’s message resonates with wider debate
The Bauchi address comes at a time when Nigeria’s democratic institutions are facing intense public scrutiny, with debates over electoral transparency, judicial independence, political accountability and the conduct of public officials dominating the 2027 political conversation.
The Goodluck Jonathan Democracy Dialogue, where Obi spoke, has increasingly become a platform for discussions on Nigeria’s democratic development and the wider challenges confronting African democracy.
Obi’s intervention therefore adds a strong political voice to the debate over whether Nigeria’s democratic institutions are sufficiently equipped to guarantee credible elections in 2027.
As the political temperature rises ahead of the next general elections, his warning raises a fundamental question for Nigerians: can democracy survive if the institutions and professionals entrusted with protecting it become participants in its manipulation?
For Obi, the answer requires Nigerians to demand stronger institutions, credible elections and a political culture in which **the people’s votes—not manipulation, intimidation or institutional compromise—determine who governs Nigeria.**
