Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has criticized the House of Representatives for failing to criminalize vote-buying during party primaries, citing the move as a setback for Nigerian democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a post on X on Sunday, the former governor of Anambra State said many Nigerians had hoped lawmakers would take a bold and decisive position against what he called the “cancer of vote-buying” that has continued to weaken the country’s democratic process.
Obi claimed that the House’s unwillingness to criminalize vote-buying in party primaries served to defend a dysfunctional political system rather than Nigeria’s future.
“By refusing to criminalize vote-buying at the foundational stage of party primaries, the House has chosen to protect a broken system rather than safeguard the nation’s future,” he wrote.
According to him, credible elections cannot grow from corrupt roots, and any meaningful effort to eradicate vote-buying must begin with the primaries, when candidates are chosen.
“Any effort to stop vote-buying must begin at the primaries. Without addressing the problem at its roots, any measures taken later will lack the strength to endure,” Obi said.
The former governor warned that a democracy based on seduction and bribery cannot achieve national growth and that a system in which votes are bought and sold resembles a “criminal marketplace” rather than true democracy.
Obi also voiced concern that the practice of vote-buying had moved beyond official political competitions, citing instances in town unions, village associations, clubs, and even student elections.
“Disturbingly, the culture of vote-buying has now trickled down even to town unions, village unions, clubs and associations, as well as student elections, emulating fraudulent politicians,” he said.
He encouraged lawmakers and political players to pursue election changes ahead of 2027, stating that Nigeria’s democratic future must not be jeopardized.
“A New Nigeria is possible, but only if we confront these practices boldly and insist that integrity begin at the very start of our electoral process,” Obi added.
