The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has said Nigeria is in crisis, berating both professors and the legislature including judges singing the praises of President Bola Tinubu.

Mr Obi criticised the judiciary, legislature and clerics who accused of praying for “criminal politicians.” 

Mr Obi spoke on Tuesday at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue held at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre in Bauchi State.

The event with the theme “Beyond Elections‘: Can Political Parties and the Judiciary Save African Democracy?,” was chaired by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, while President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Kashim Shettima, served as the special guest of honour and guest of honour, respectively.

“I was in court for three years challenging my election. Five judges that I never met for one day gave judgement in my favour. It cannot happen in Nigeria of today. I went to the Court of Appeal; five judges I never met gave judgement in my favour,” Mr Obi said.

Comparing his experience with the judiciary when he was governor and now as a presidential candidate, Mr Obi said, “So, if you look at that and look at what is happening today in Nigeria, where professors are now aiding illiterates to rig elections, where our lawmakers have removed forgery as an offence in electoral matters, and Senior Advocates of Nigeria are defending forgery.”

The former Anambra State governor, who was caught on video declaring the 2023 presidential election as a religious war in a conversation with David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church, berated clerics for praying for criminal politicians and accusing judges of singing Mr Tinubu’s praises with “On your mandate we shall stand.”

“Our religious leaders are now praying for criminal politicians for blessings. We have a crisis. And above all, our judges are now singing, ‘On your mandate,”Mr Obi said.