2027: Courts shouldn’t determine election outcome – Victor Umeh backs Peter Obi

Anambra Central senator Victor Umeh recently expressed his support for presidential candidate Peter Obi's stance that courts should not be responsible for determining the outcome of Nigeria's elections. Umeh argued that it is crucial for votes to count and that the 2027 elections must be free, fair, and credible. During an interview, Obi had suggested that if the INEC fails to count votes in 2027, they should count those who didn't cast their ballots.

Umeh emphasized that the essence of this statement is to ensure a transparent election process where all votes are counted and recorded according to the prescribed forms. He explained that the past experiences have shown that voters who have gone to the polls might not see their preferred candidate win, which is why it's essential to ensure that their votes count.

According to Umeh, the only way to protect the sanctity of the ballot box is by guaranteeing that the electorate's votes determine the election's outcome. He firmly stated that it is not appropriate for courts to make decisions about election results, as it creates a bad culture in Nigeria where candidates expect to be declared winners irrespective of their vote count and seek recourse in court when they feel aggrieved.