Obi Slams Tear-Gassing of Protesters, Demands Electoral Transparency

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the alleged tear-gassing of peaceful protesters in Nigeria, describing the development as further proof that the country is becoming a “now disgraced nation” in the eyes of the world.

In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, Obi decried what he called the suppression of citizens who were exercising their constitutional rights to demand free, fair, and credible elections. According to him, harmless Nigerians carrying out peaceful civic duties were dispersed with tear gas merely for insisting on electoral integrity in a democratic society.

Obi accused those in authority of betraying democratic ideals, alleging that individuals who once positioned themselves as defenders of democracy have now become “destroyers of our democracy and the worst enemies of good governance.”

He called on Nigerians to unite and resist what he described as ongoing attempts to undermine the nation’s democratic foundations. The former presidential candidate urged citizens to stand firm in protecting the country’s collective future and to ensure that credible electoral processes are institutionalised.

Central to his demand, Obi reiterated the need for real-time, mandatory electronic transmission of polling unit results, stressing that such a measure is essential to guarantee transparency, restore public trust, and safeguard the integrity of elections.

“Free, fair, and credible elections must be firmly established for the sake of our future,” he stated, adding that Nigeria’s progress depends on justice, accountability, and good governance.

He concluded with a message of hope, insisting that despite the current challenges, “A New Nigeria is Possible.”

The statement comes amid heightened political tension and growing public concerns over the conduct of elections and the protection of civil liberties in the country.