2027: 600 lecturers perfecting rigging plan – Peter Obi Media Office alleges

The Peter Obi Media Office has expressed concern that about 600 university lecturers may be conspiring to manipulate the 2027 general elections. This allegation was made in a statement by the spokesman of the team, Idris Zekeri, on Tuesday. The concern arises as President Bola Tinubu has reportedly received backing from approximately 600 university lecturers.

The Media Office contends that this endorsement is an early attempt to establish a network of loyalists before the election. The statement highlights the seriousness of the situation, noting that academics have often been involved in electoral roles, such as serving as returning and collation officers. The team further points out that the public endorsement of an incumbent president by academics who could potentially hold electoral duties raises questions about potential conflicts of interest.

"Reports suggest that around 600 university academics have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu," the statement begins. "This is deeply troubling, as it appears to be an early effort to create and legitimize a network of partisan actors prior to the 2027 presidential election." The statement further clarifies that the academics, despite expressing their political views, are part of an institution that has frequently supplied electoral officials in the past.