Peter Obi has criticised lawmakers for rejecting reforms against vote buying at party primaries, warning that Nigeria’s democracy is being weakened from the roots.
Former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has expressed strong disappointment over the House of Representatives’ failure to criminalise inducement and bribery during party primaries, describing the decision as a major blow to Nigeria’s democratic development.
Obi made his position known while reacting to ongoing legislative debates on proposed amendments to the Electoral Act 2022.
According to him, the refusal by lawmakers to address inducement at the foundational level of political competition signals a troubling lack of commitment to genuine electoral reform.
He warned that Nigeria cannot build credible elections while ignoring the earliest stages where corruption often takes root.
In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, December 21, Obi said many Nigerians had looked forward to decisive legislative action against vote buying, which he described as one of the most destructive practices undermining democratic values in the country.
Instead, he noted, public expectations were dashed when the House declined to extend criminal liability to party primaries.
The former governor argued that electoral malpractice does not suddenly emerge on election day but is nurtured long before then through compromised party processes.
He explained that allowing inducement during primaries legitimises corruption and sets the tone for flawed general elections, where outcomes are influenced by money rather than the will of the people.
According to Obi, the refusal to confront vote buying at the party level weakens internal democracy and creates a system where candidates emerge not on merit or competence, but on their ability to outspend rivals.
He warned that such a process discourages capable individuals without access to large financial resources from participating in politics, thereby shrinking the pool of quality leadership.
He further stated that no democracy can thrive when its electoral foundation is compromised, stressing that reforms focused only on general elections amount to addressing symptoms while ignoring the disease itself.
Obi maintained that any serious effort to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s elections must begin at the nomination stage.
Beyond formal politics, Obi raised concerns about the wider societal impact of unchecked inducement, noting that the culture of vote buying has spread into town unions, village associations, social clubs, and even student union elections.
He described this trend as evidence of how deeply electoral malpractice has permeated society, warning that it risks normalising corruption among younger generations.
The Labour Party chieftain questioned how long Nigeria would continue to tolerate a system that rewards unethical behaviour while punishing integrity.
He argued that democracy should be a platform for collective decision-making, not a marketplace where votes are traded for cash or favours.
Obi also warned that Nigeria’s international image and democratic credibility are at stake, especially as global observers continue to scrutinise the country’s elections.
He stressed that vote buying erodes trust not only in electoral institutions but also in governance outcomes, as leaders who emerge through corrupt processes are less likely to prioritise public interest.
Reiterating his long-standing call for reform, Obi insisted that laws must be strengthened to deter inducement at every stage of the electoral cycle.
He said confronting vote buying decisively would send a strong message that democracy is not for sale and that political power must be earned through ideas, service, and public trust.
Concluding his remarks, Obi expressed optimism that Nigeria can still achieve democratic renewal if citizens and leaders insist on integrity from the very beginning of the political process.
He maintained that meaningful change remains possible, but only if lawmakers demonstrate the courage to dismantle systems that protect corruption rather than the future of the nation.
Ireport247news
