The sanator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Victor Umeh, has defended Peter Obi’s warning against electoral manipulation in the 2027 general election, insisting that the former presidential candidate was not threatening anarchy but demanding that Nigerians’ votes be respected.

Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), had warned that Nigerians would resist any attempt to subvert their votes in the 2027 election.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, Obi said, “Our votes this time must count, and whoever doesn’t count it, we will count the person.”

The remark generated reactions in political circles, with some interpreting it as a warning of possible unrest if the election was manipulated.

However, Umeh, while appearing on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday, dismissed concerns over the statement, describing it as a legitimate demand for credible elections.

According to the lawmaker, Obi’s position reflects the expectations of Nigerians who want their votes accurately counted, recorded and reflected in the final results.

“I think the statement he made is not extreme. It is not inciting in any form. He merely stated what the Nigerian electorate will be expecting in 2027,” Umeh said.

He argued that a transparent electoral process would eliminate the conditions that could trigger post-election disputes and unrest.

Umeh said Obi’s comment should be viewed as a challenge to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other electoral stakeholders to ensure that the results declared after the election genuinely reflect the votes cast.

“There will be no room for fraud or manipulation of election results. If taken further, it is a call on the electoral umpire to ensure that what will come out of that process will be genuine and real,” he said.

The senator described Obi’s warning as “a call to patriotic duty” for electoral authorities to conduct an election capable of commanding public confidence.

He urged voters and other stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of the ballot by ensuring that votes cast at polling units were properly counted, recorded and transmitted in line with the prescribed electoral procedures.

“So, whether he says the people will count the votes or we count them is a call to duty and awakening the consciousness of everybody to help to protect the sanctity of the ballot box,” Umeh said.

Umeh further maintained that the best way to avert post-election tension was to prevent manipulation of the electoral process in the first place.

“If you want to prevent anarchy, the best way to go about it is by doing what is right,” he said.

According to him, the use of electoral technology, proper voter accreditation and transparent sorting, counting and collation should make it possible for declared results to correspond with the actual votes cast.

“There will be no anarchy,” Umeh said, arguing that any unrest arising from disputed election results would be the consequence of electoral malpractice rather than Obi’s warning.

“When you manipulate and give false results, you are the one inviting the anarchy, not Peter Obi, who is saying that the right thing should be done,” he added.