LAGOS, Nigeria — The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, announced on Sept. 10, 2026, that he will concede defeat in the 2027 presidential election only if the vote is free, fair, and credible.
Golden Info reports that Peter Obi made the statement during an interview broadcast on Arise TV on Sept. 10, 2026, where he addressed his platform for the upcoming general election and reflected on the previous national contest.
During the broadcast, Peter Obi reaffirmed his claim regarding the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, asserting that he won the contest despite the official results published by election authorities.
“If the election is free, fair and credible, I will because it’s an election. It’s the people that would say who they want to serve, and I will respect the will of the people; that’s democracy,” Peter Obi said.
“I did, and I will maintain that as long as I live that I won the 2023 election. Those who conducted it know the records; they know why there was a glitch and what happened,” Peter Obi added.
Addressing national governance and electoral considerations, Peter Obi rejected the concept of a rotating presidency based on regional or religious considerations, stating that candidate qualifications and competence should determine electoral outcomes.
“Election should not be driven by tribe or religion. Today, in terms of qualification, I’m qualified to be president of Nigeria. I have the competence; I have been all over the world studying what it takes to be president of a country, and I know what I can do to turn around this country in the right direction,” Peter Obi said.
Peter Obi cited his academic attendance at international institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Columbia, and Kellogg, offering to step down from the presidential race if any irregularity is found in his educational credentials.
“You can look at our qualification in terms of training. I’ve been to the best schools from all over the world, from Oxford to Cambridge, Harvard, Columbia, and Kellogg, and I’ve been everywhere, and every certificate I’m showing you is the way it is. If they find anyone wrong, I will drop from the race,” Peter Obi said.
Peter Obi also criticized the demographics of Nigeria’s executive leadership, noting that no citizen born after 1960 has served as president of Nigeria since the country gained independence 66 years ago.
“Since 1960, nobody born outside 1960 has been president of Nigeria. This is 66 years of independence; no other country in the world has had this happen to, and they tell youths they’re the leaders of tomorrow,” Peter Obi said.