Former presidential candidate Peter Obi on Tuesday condemned the reported tear gassing of peaceful demonstrators, saying the incident reinforces concerns about Nigeria’s democratic direction.
In a statement posted on X, Obi said harmless citizens performing their constitutionally guaranteed duties peacefully were tear gassed simply for asking for free, fair, and credible elections in a democratic nation.
He added that the development shows why Nigeria is now a disgraced nation.
Obi accused political leaders of abandoning democratic principles.
He said those who once claimed to be champions of democracy have now become destroyers of democracy and enemies of good governance.
He urged Nigerians en masse to resist what he described as continued harmful plans against the country.
He also called on citizens to stand united against what he termed the destruction of the nation and its collective future.
Obi demanded real time mandatory electronic transmission of polling unit results to guarantee transparency and rebuild trust in the electoral process.
He insisted that Nigeria must be founded on free, fair, and credible elections, justice, and good governance.
Peter Obi was present on the first day of the protest on February 9 when he led demonstrators to the National Assembly of Nigeria in Abuja.
The protesters were demanding the inclusion of real time electronic transmission of election results in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act.
