By Abiola Olawale
Former Anambra Governor and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has officially declared his intention to challenge the newly signed Electoral Act 2026 in court.
Speaking shortly after his formal registration with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in his hometown of Agulu, Obi characterized the new legislation as a strategic attempt to manipulate the upcoming 2027 general elections.
Obi’s primary contention lies in what he describes as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) encroachment into the internal affairs of political parties.
Using a sports analogy to drive home his point, Obi argued that INEC is overstepping its constitutional bounds.
He alleged that provisions of the new electoral law were designed to facilitate electoral manipulation and undermine the credibility of future elections.
“I am going to challenge the decision in court; INEC has no reason to assume processes in how political parties elect their candidates. Its responsibility is to conduct elections.
“You don’t tell a team how to prepare its players before a match. As a referee, INEC’s role is to officiate, not to determine which players a team should field,” he said.
Obi said the provisions of the new law appeared designed to favour the ruling party in the next general election.
“All the laws being hurriedly created are simply aimed at enabling the ruling party to snatch the 2027 presidential election and run away with it,” he alleged.
He urged party members and supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 polls.
“We have about 2.8 million registered voters in Anambra, and I urge everyone to go to the grassroots and mobilise people to register and be ready to vote,” he said.
The former presidential candidate also emphasised the need for political unity among opposition groups.
According to him, the South-East region is working collectively with other parts of the country to build a strong opposition ahead of the next elections.
“In this journey of 2027, we in the South-East are working as a family and discussing with other regions.
“The goal is to unite the opposition and create a new Nigeria. The South-East is part of Nigeria and no region is more Nigerian than the South-East,” he added.
Obi also criticised the current socio-economic conditions, describing the country as one of the poorest globally despite its vast resources.
He stated, “We cannot continue in an era where Nigeria has become one of the worst five countries in the world and the poverty capital of the world.
“We are committed to building a Nigeria where the child of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody.
