The former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, has condemned the reported tear-gassing of peaceful protesters in Nigeria, describing the incident as a sign that the country is sliding further into what he termed a “disgraced nation”.

Obi, in a post on X on Tuesday, said Nigerians exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly were attacked simply for demanding free, fair and credible elections.

He accused some political actors who once claimed to be defenders of democracy of now working against democratic principles and good governance.

Obi urged Nigerians to resist what he described as “continued evil plans” and to stand united in defending the nation’s democratic future.

He called for the mandatory real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results, arguing that it remains the most effective way to ensure transparency, credibility and public trust in elections.

“Free, fair, and credible elections must be firmly established for the sake of our collective future,” he said, adding that Nigeria can only be rebuilt on the foundations of justice, accountability, and good governance.

Drawing a comparison with India, the world’s largest democracy, Obi noted that India successfully manages elections for over 960 million registered voters across more than one million polling stations, with efficient use of technology for result transmission.

He contrasted this with Nigeria’s electoral challenges, despite having about 93 million registered voters and significantly fewer polling units and political parties.

Obi attributed the difference between the two countries largely to leadership.

“While Indian leaders and institutions work to protect the welfare of citizens and future generations, many Nigerian leaders pursue policies that impoverish the people and undermine democratic development,” he added. (Daily Sun)