Rev. Dr Okechukwu Christopher Obioha, leader of the Njiko Igbo Forum, has warned that the 2027 presidential election may not hold if Peter Obi is excluded from the ballot. His statement followed a Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Justice Isah Dashen delivered the judgment, citing an earlier court decision that affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claims ownership of the logo used by the NDC. The court found that the NDC's registration conflicted with the PMP's legal claim.
Obioha, speaking in an interview with Daily Post, criticized the consistency of Nigeria's judiciary. He said public confidence in the courts had eroded due to inconsistent rulings. "Now we have no regard for the judiciary in Nigeria. The judiciary in Nigeria is full of inconsistencies," Obioha stated. He added that court pronouncements on political matters were no longer trusted by many Nigerians.
He emphasized that Peter Obi's possible exclusion from the 2027 election would not be taken lightly. "If Peter Obi is frustrated and is not on the ballot, there will be no election in 2027. That's not a threat. It is going to work out that way," Obioha said. He described the statement as a warning, not a threat, and invited interpretations as prophecy, given his status as a reverend. Obioha noted that many Nigerians were disillusioned with the current political system and were unwilling to accept what they saw as systemic marginalization of credible candidates.
Obioha claims to reject judicial authority while using a court ruling to amplify his warning about 2027. His assertion that Peter Obi's absence from the ballot will prevent an election implies that democratic process depends on individual inclusion, not institutional integrity. Millions of Nigerians who support Obi may now see court decisions as tools to enable or block political futures. The statement shifts focus from legal procedure to personal political consequence.
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