Former Anambra State governor Peter Obi has alleged that university professors and other institutions that should protect Nigeria’s democracy are now contributing to the manipulation of elections.
Obi made the allegation on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi State, where he criticised what he described as the declining integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The dialogue, chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was attended by former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, among other stakeholders.
Speaking on the theme, “Beyond Elections: Can Political Parties and the Judiciary Save African Democracy?”, Obi compared the present state of Nigeria’s democracy with his experience challenging the outcome of the 2003 Anambra governorship election.
Obi recalled that he spent three years in court challenging the election and secured favourable judgments from judges he said he had never met personally.
“I was in court for three years challenging my election.”
“Five judges that I never met for one day gave judgement in my favour; it cannot happen in Nigeria of today,” he said.
He said he subsequently proceeded to the Court of Appeal, where another panel of five judges whom he said he had never met also ruled in his favour.
According to Obi, the experience demonstrated the importance of an independent judiciary capable of determining cases based on facts and the law rather than personal relationships or political considerations.
He said, “That is supposed to be the role of the judiciary in a democratic society, delivering judgment based on merit of the facts available.”
Obi then contrasted his experience with what he described as the present deterioration of Nigeria’s electoral process, alleging that academics were now being used to facilitate electoral manipulation.
“So, if you look at that and look at what is happening today in Nigeria where professors are now aiding illiterates to rig elections,” he said.
The former governor also criticised lawmakers over electoral legislation, alleging that some legal provisions had been weakened in ways that could undermine the integrity of elections.
“Where our lawmakers have removed forgery as an offence in electoral matters, and Senior Advocates of Nigeria are defending forgery,” Obi said.
He extended his criticism to religious leaders, accusing some of them of offering prayers and political support to politicians whom he described as criminals.
“Our religious leaders are now praying for criminal politicians for blessings.”
“We have a crisis,” he said.
Obi also took aim at the judiciary, accusing some judges of becoming politically aligned with those in power.
“And above all, our judges are now singing ‘on your mandate’,” he said.
The expression “on your mandate” has been associated with political support for elected leaders, and Obi’s reference was part of his broader argument that institutions expected to remain independent were becoming entangled in partisan politics.
He warned Nigerians against accepting such developments as normal, arguing that the continued weakening of democratic institutions could have consequences beyond the present political generation.
“We need to reverse this because the abuse we are allowing today will take its revenge on our children,” he said.
Obi’s remarks came less than a year before Nigeria’s next general election cycle, placing electoral credibility and institutional independence among the issues likely to dominate political discussions ahead of 2027.
The politician, who is now the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has repeatedly made institutional reform and electoral credibility central to his political arguments.
However, his latest comments were broader than a criticism of any particular political party or election, as he directed his attention at several institutions including academia, the legislature, legal profession, religious institutions and the judiciary.
His allegation that professors are helping “illiterates” rig elections was not accompanied by the identification of particular academics, universities or specific elections in the reports of his speech.
The statement should therefore be understood as an allegation and political criticism by Obi rather than an independently established finding against university professors generally.
The former governor’s argument ultimately centred on the need to restore credibility to institutions responsible for protecting democratic governance.
He warned that when electoral malpractice, compromised institutions and political interference become accepted practices, the consequences could extend beyond individual election cycles and affect future generations.
The Bauchi dialogue consequently provided a platform for Obi to call for Nigerians to reassess the country’s democratic direction and demand stronger institutions capable of protecting the credibility of elections.
His central warning was that Nigerians should not become comfortable with practices that undermine democracy simply because they have become increasingly common.
As the country moves towards the 2027 elections, Obi’s remarks have added another forceful voice to the debate over electoral integrity, judicial independence and the responsibility of institutions to protect Nigeria’s democratic process.