Breaking: "What We Will Do If 2027 Election is Not Fair", Obi, Sowore, Atiku Speak Tough
- Multiple candidates at a Democracy and Governance forum on Monday, August 24, responded to a direct question about accepting the January 16, 2027 election result
- Several candidates said they would only accept the outcome if the election was free, fair, and credible, with some rejecting it outright if conditions were not met
- One candidate drew laughter from the audience by saying the question was unnecessary because he was certain of victory
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Several Nigerian presidential candidates have said they will not accept the result of the January 16, 2027 general election if the process is not free, fair, and credible.
The declarations came on Monday, August 24, during the NBA Annual General Conference 2026, themed "Democracy & Governance: Beyond Limits," where a moderator posed a direct question to candidates seated in a row before a live audience: "You lose the election on January 16th, 2027. Would you accept the outcome? Yes or no?"
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Source: Twitter
Candidates draw the line on acceptance
The presidential candidate of Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo answered first, saying flatly: "No, if it's not fair."
Former governor Donald Duke echoed the position immediately, adding:
"Why should I accept something that is wrong? I agree with him. If it's not fair, I will not accept it. I may not go to the court, but personally I will not accept it."
Presidential candidate of NDC, Peter Obi offered the shortest response of the session, saying simply:
"I win."
A candidate identified as Lawal, who represented Seyi Makinde, the presidential candidate of APC, said:
"Definitely, if it is free and fair, we will accept. If not, we will not accept."
Speaking, Amaechi who represented ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, used the platform to make a case for his candidacy's cross-ethnic appeal, arguing that his campaign was not rooted in regional or ethnic identity.
"We are the most tribalized candidates. If you look at where we are coming from, so we will win. We are not Yoruba, we are not Igbo, we are not Hausa, we are a Nigerian candidate," he said.
Also reacting, Omoyele Sowore, the presential candidate of AAC, sai:
"There is no way we can win if we don't fight. And there's no way we can lose since we are fighters. Yes, we will win. No, we will not accede if it's not free, fair, and credible."
Context Ahead of the 2027 Vote
The forum exchange reflects the tension building around Nigeria's electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections, with candidates already staking out public positions on legitimacy and acceptance.
One of the candidates at the forum said they would accept an unfavourable result unconditionally.
2027: Obi, Atiku, other yet to announce campaign council
Previously, Legit.ng reported that several opposition presidential candidates for the 2027 general elections are yet to fix campaign launch dates or announce their council structures, even as the All Progressives Congress moved quickly to constitute a 223-member presidential campaign body headed by former Zamfara state governor Abdulaziz Yari.
Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, told journalists on Sunday, August 23, 2026, that the former vice-president's campaign council, its leadership, and a formal launch date would be disclosed at the appropriate time.
Source: Legit.ng
