I Won, But It Was Rigged" — Peter Obi Addresses European Diplomats on Nigeria’s Future and Democracy

Former Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi has once again thrown himself into the center of national discourse following a high-level engagement with European policymakers. Speaking at a roundtable discussion hosted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in Berlin, Germany, titled "Nigeria in 2027 and Beyond," Obi addressed diplomats, business leaders, and the international press regarding the state of Nigeria’s democracy. During the engagement, the former Anambra State governor directly confronted the fallout of the last general election, stating firmly: “I won the last election in Nigeria, but it was rigged, and I do not dwell on it.”

The roundtable discussion, which brought together senior representatives from the German Federal Government, international media, and global policy institutes, focused primarily on strengthening democratic institutions, fostering regional stability, and expanding bilateral partnerships. Obi used the international platform to pivot from past political grievances to a forward-looking strategy, emphasizing that Nigeria's long-term survival depends heavily on moving away from the "politics of consumption" toward a productivity-driven economy.

While reflecting on the heavily criticized electoral process that saw President Bola Ahmed Tinubu take office, Obi urged his international audience and local supporters not to remain trapped in the bitterness of past irregularities. Instead, he underscored the necessity of building robust democratic frameworks and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to prepare Nigeria for future democratic transitions.Summary (For Subtitle/Excerpt Field)At an elite roundtable hosted by the European Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin, Peter Obi claims he won Nigeria's last presidential election but insists he is looking beyond the "rigged" past to focus on the country's economic and democratic future heading into 2027.