NDC presidential candidate says voters will no longer be intimidated at polling units, promises stronger measures to protect ballots and address concerns over electronic transmission of results.

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has vowed to defend the votes of Nigerians in the 2027 presidential election, saying he is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that the people’s mandate is not taken away.

Obi made the declaration on Thursday during a town hall meeting with voters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he urged Nigerians to remain resolute and refuse attempts to intimidate them at polling units.

“Nobody will intimidate us again at the polling booth,” Obi said, stressing that the number of voters at polling units was far greater than the officials who might attempt to intimidate them.

The former Anambra State governor said the NDC was putting coordination mechanisms in place to enable voters to exercise their rights freely and protect their ballots throughout the electoral process.

He said the measures were aimed at preventing a recurrence of what he described as irregularities witnessed during the 2023 presidential election.

Obi also expressed concerns about possible manipulation of election results through the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

According to him, steps would be taken to address network-related challenges and other technical issues that could affect the electronic transmission and viewing of results.

He urged Nigerians to work together to ensure that their votes count, insisting that protecting the electoral mandate should be a collective responsibility.

Obi further declared that he was ready to “die” in defence of the people’s mandate, urging supporters and voters not to surrender their rights to intimidation or electoral manipulation.

His comments come as political parties and presidential aspirants begin preparations for the 2027 general elections, with electoral integrity and the protection of voters’ mandates expected to remain major issues in the contest.