Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, has thrown his weight behind the call by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that every vote counts in the 2027 general elections.
Umeh, who spoke on Monday, said Nigerian courts should not be placed in a position where they determine the winners of elections, insisting that the outcome of polls must be decided by votes cast by the electorate.
Obi had, over the weekend, called on INEC to guarantee a credible electoral process in 2027 and ensure that the votes of Nigerians are accurately counted and reflected in the final results.
Reacting during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, Umeh said Obi’s position was aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and restoring confidence in the electoral system.
According to him, elections must be free, fair and credible, with all votes properly counted and recorded in the prescribed electoral forms.
Umeh said Nigerians should not be subjected to a situation where they cast their ballots for a particular candidate, only for a different result to be announced after the election.
He argued that INEC must do more than simply promise credible elections by ensuring that the integrity of the ballot is protected throughout the electoral process.
“The only way to enhance and protect the sanctity of the ballot box is by ensuring that the votes of the electorates count in determining who wins the election,” Umeh said.
The senator criticized the practice of announcing disputed results and subsequently directing aggrieved candidates to seek redress in court.
He maintained that courts should primarily adjudicate electoral disputes rather than determine who won an election after the votes have allegedly been disregarded.
“It’s not about people being called out again in 2027, they will make their choices, cast their votes and in the end you announce fake results and ask anybody who feels bad about the result to go to court. The court should not determine the outcome of elections,” he said.
Umeh described the situation where politicians seek to win elections “at all cost,” regardless of the actual votes received, as a bad political culture that must end.
He stressed that the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system would improve when citizens are confident that their votes will be accurately counted and respected.
The senator urged electoral authorities and political stakeholders to ensure that the 2027 elections reflect the genuine choices of Nigerian voters.
