“Those who claimed to be champions of democracy yesterday have become its destroyers today” – Obi 

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party Peter Obi has condemned the recent use of tear gas against peaceful protesters in Nigeria, describing the incident as a stark demonstration of the country’s democratic decline.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Obi lamented that citizens exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights were targeted simply for demanding free, fair, and credible elections.

“Today, in our beloved country Nigeria, harmless citizens performing their constitutionally guaranteed duties peacefully were tear-gassed simply for asking for what is right: free, fair, and credible elections in a democratic nation,” Obi said. “Those who yesterday claimed to be champions of democracy, have today become destroyers of our democracy and the worst enemies of good governance.”

Obi called on Nigerians to resist what he described as “continued evil plans” and to unite in safeguarding the nation’s democratic institutions. He urged citizens to ensure that real-time mandatory electronic transmission of polling unit results is implemented, emphasizing that such measures are critical to transparency and public trust in the electoral process.

The former governor of Anambra also appealed for divine support in the country’s quest for accountable governance. “May God grant us the strength to build a better country, founded on free, fair, and credible elections, justice, and good governance, for the future of our dear nation,” he added.

Obi’s statement comes amid widespread debate over the recently passed Electoral Act Amendment Bill and ongoing disputes between the National Assembly’s Senate and House of Representatives over the mandatory electronic transmission of election results.

Civil society organisations and opposition groups have similarly called for strict enforcement of e-transmission provisions to strengthen electoral credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.