File: NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has criticised religious leaders for allegedly praying for politicians he described as criminals, saying the development was among signs that Nigeria was facing a crisis.

Obi spoke on Tuesday at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital, where he also faulted the judiciary and electoral system for what he described as declining standards in the country.

He said, “Our religious leaders are now praying for criminal politicians for blessings. We have a crisis. And above all, our judges are now singing on your mandate.”

The former Anambra State governor also recalled spending three years in court challenging his defeat, saying five judges he had never met delivered judgments in his favour.

“I was in court for three years challenging my election; five judges that I never met for one day gave judgment in my favour. It cannot happen in Nigeria of today,” Obi said.

He further criticised what he described as the weakening of electoral safeguards, alleging that lawmakers had removed forgery as an offence in electoral matters while lawyers were defending cases involving forgery.

Obi said the country needed to reverse the trend, warning that the consequences of current abuses would eventually affect future generations.

“We need to reverse this because the abuse we are allowing today will take its revenge on our children,” he said.

The dialogue, organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, was anchored on the theme, “Beyond elections, can political parties and the judiciary save African democracy?”

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