Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has expressed his sadness and disappointment over the recent topless protest by Nasarawa State women who claimed that the governorship election was rigged. The women had resorted to extreme measures to register their displeasure over the alleged injustice.
Obi, who was moved by the video of the protest, described it as “heartbreaking.” He noted that the essence of elections is to enable citizens to participate in democratic governance through the representatives they elect. When citizens are denied the opportunity to vote in a free, fair, and credible process, or when their mandate is stolen from them, it constitutes a grievous injustice.
The former Anambra State governor also emphasized the need to protect the rights of women and ensure that their voices are heard. He expressed his commitment to implementing a 40% affirmative action for women in political appointments and encouraged the same in the corporate world.
Obi concluded by calling on the government to ensure that the mandate of the people is not stolen from them. As a nation, he said, we must do better to safeguard the democratic process and uphold the rights of our citizens.