{
  "id": 579140,
  "title": "Professors now aiding illiterates to rig elections — Obi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/professors-now-aiding-illiterates-to-rig-elections-obi-579140",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-11T16:06:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/professors-now-aiding-illiterates-to-rig-elections-obi/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nigeria's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has harshly criticized the state of the country's electoral and judicial systems. During a recent speech at a democracy dialogue in Bauchi, Obi accused professors of aiding electoral fraud, lawmakers of weakening electoral laws, and senior lawyers of defending forgery. He contrasted his own legal victory in court with the current state of Nigeria's institutions, stating that \"professors are now aiding illiterates to rig elections\" and that \"lawmakers have removed forgery as an offence in electoral matters.\" Obi also criticized senior advocates for defending forgery and religious leaders for praying for criminal politicians. He further alleged that some judges have become politically aligned, singling out the phrase \"On your mandate we stand\" as a sign of a broader institutional crisis. Obi emphasized that these developments require immediate attention and reversal.",
  "summary": "Presidential candidate Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress has criticized the state of Nigeria's electoral and judicial institutions, accusing professors of aiding electoral malpractice, lawmakers of weakening electoral laws, and senior lawyers of defending forgery. During a 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, Obi contrasted his experience challenging his election in court with the current deterioration of the country's institutions, stating that professors are now aiding illiterates to rig elections, lawmakers have removed forgery as an offense in electoral matters, and senior Advocates of Nigeria are defending forgery. He also criticized the judiciary, alleging that some judges have become politically aligned, and noted that religious leaders are praying for criminal politicians. Obi emphasized that these developments indicate a wider institutional crisis that needs to be addressed.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Professors now aiding illiterates to rig elections — Obi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/professors-now-aiding-illiterates-to-rig-elections-obi",
        "published": "2026-08-11T15:46:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}