2027: Obi camp alleges early rigging plan over 600 academics’ Tinubu backing

2027: Obi camp alleges early rigging plan over 600 academics’ Tinubu backing

The Peter Obi Media Office (POMR) has raised the alarm over the reported endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by about 600 university academics, alleging that the development could be an early attempt to influence the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr., POMR described the reported endorsement as “profoundly troubling”, arguing that it could signal the emergence of a partisan network ahead of the election.

“The Peter Obi Media Office has become aware of reports that approximately 600 university academics have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement said.

“This development is profoundly troubling and should be recognised for what it signifies: an early attempt to build and legitimise a network of partisan actors ahead of the 2027 presidential election.”

The media office said the academics’ positions within the university system made the development more concerning because some academics have historically served as electoral officials, including returning officers.

“These individuals are not just 600 private citizens expressing their political preferences; they belong to an institution that has frequently provided electoral officials, including returning officers,” it said.

POMR consequently questioned whether the reported endorsement could create a conflict of interest if some of the academics were later appointed to sensitive electoral positions.

“Their public backing for the incumbent consequently raises a serious and unavoidable question: is the framework for manipulating the 2027 election already being established?” the statement asked.

The group alleged that electoral manipulation does not necessarily begin on election day but could involve preparations long before voting takes place.

“We have seen this pattern before. Electoral rigging does not suddenly occur on election day; it begins months or even years earlier through the identification, cultivation, and placement of individuals capable of influencing the process when votes are finally cast,” POMR said.

It urged Nigerians to remain vigilant ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly over the possible appointment of politically aligned individuals to electoral duties.

“That is why Nigerians must remain vigilant now,” the statement said.

“When academics who might be assigned sensitive electoral responsibilities openly organise to endorse the very candidate whose election they might later help oversee, the risk of conflict of interest is evident.”

According to POMR, such a situation could undermine confidence in the electoral process and raise questions about the impartiality of officials involved in collating and announcing results.

“This sets the stage for a compromised electoral process and undermines public trust in the impartiality of those who may be responsible for announcing the results,” it said.

The Peter Obi media office called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose the identities of the academics involved in the reported endorsement and bar them from sensitive electoral duties during the 2027 general elections.

“Let no one deceive Nigerians: preparations for electoral manipulation may start long before voting begins,” POMR said.

“We therefore urge INEC to release the names of all 600 + academics involved in this or any other political endorsement and to formally prohibit them from serving as Returning Officers, Collation Officers, or electoral staff during the 2027 general elections.”

It also asked INEC to publish the names of prospective collation and returning officers before future elections to enable political parties, civil society organisations and members of the public to scrutinise their political neutrality.

“INEC must also publish the complete list of all prospective Collation and Returning Officers well in advance of future elections, allowing civil society, political parties, and the public to evaluate their political neutrality,” the statement said.

POMR further called on university governing councils and academic bodies to introduce stricter conflict-of-interest rules to prevent academic staff from using their professional positions for partisan mobilisation.

“We further call on university governing councils and academic bodies nationwide to adopt strict conflict- of- interest rules that prevent staff from using their professional academic positions to facilitate partisan political mobilisation,” it said.

“Nigerians are watching. The machinery for rigging must not be allowed to take root before the election even begins.”

“The people must choose their leaders, and the outcome must be decided by their votes—not by a pre- arranged electoral network,” the group added.