Cletus Obun, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, has criticized opposition politicians for what he described as double standards in interpreting election outcomes across Nigeria, arguing that similar electoral results are judged differently depending on who wins.
The party stalwart made the comments while reacting to ongoing debates about alleged electoral manipulation and vote patterns in recent elections, insisting that accusations of rigging are often selectively applied when outcomes do not favor certain political actors.
According to a video posted on the official YouTube channel of Trust TV on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Obun argued that some political observers and commentators tend to accept opposition victories without question while quickly labeling ruling party victories as products of manipulation.
He suggested that this inconsistency undermines objective analysis of Nigeria’s electoral process and ignores the role of voter behavior in shaping outcomes across different regions of the country.
In his words, “Kwankwaso, Atiku, and Tinubu put together didn’t get two percent of the votes in the South-East because Peter Obi won them all, but when Peter Obi defeated Tinubu in Lagos, nobody talked about rigging because it was expected, yet when the President loses, it is labeled as manipulation.”
Obun used the statement to highlight what he described as inconsistent interpretations of electoral results, particularly in regions where one candidate dominates over others. He argued that such outcomes are often driven by voter preference rather than electoral fraud.
The APC chieftain further explained that voting patterns in Nigeria are often influenced by regional sentiments, candidate popularity, and party loyalty, which can lead to significant disparities in vote distribution across states.
He maintained that the electorate is capable of making deliberate and strategic choices during elections, and that such decisions should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of manipulation or irregularities.
According to him, the concentration of votes for particular candidates in specific regions reflects political realities rather than coordinated electoral malpractice.
Obun also insisted that opposition figures and their supporters frequently dismiss unfavorable results as rigged while celebrating victories in other regions as legitimate expressions of democratic will.
He warned that such selective interpretations could undermine public trust in the electoral system and distract from the need to strengthen democratic institutions.
