Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) 2027 presidential candidate Peter Obi has stated that democracy is under threat when Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) begin to defend forgery.
Speaking at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi State on Tuesday, Obi said the defence of alleged electoral forgery by some members of Nigeria’s legal elite reflected a broader erosion of institutional values.
The annual dialogue, themed “Beyond Elections: Can Political Parties and the Judiciary Save African Democracy?”, brought together former President Goodluck Jonathan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, former Ghanaian President John Mahama, judges, politicians and academics to examine the future of democratic governance in Africa.
Comparing his experience as Governor with what obtains today, Peter Obi recalled how he secured a judgement restoring his mandate as Anambra state Governor at the court of Appeal without knowing anybody.
“I went to Court of Appeal, five judges I never met gave judgment in my favour,” Obi said,
He contrasted that experience with what he described as a decline in the integrity of institutions central to democratic governance today stating “If you look at that and look at what is happening today in Nigeria, where professors are now aiding illiterates to rig elections, where our lawmakers have removed forgery as an offence in electoral matters, where our Senior Advocates of Nigeria are defending forgery, where our religious leaders are praying for criminal politicians for blessing, we have a crisis.
“And above all, our judges are now singing ‘On your mandate,’” He noted.
