Monday, December 22, 2025 - The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has criticised the House of Representatives for failing to criminalise vote-buying during party primaries, describing the decision as a setback for Nigeria’s democracy.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, December
21, the former Anambra State governor said many Nigerians had hoped lawmakers
would take a firm and decisive stand against vote-buying, which he described as
a major threat to credible elections in the country.
“Just yesterday, Nigerians hoped that the House of
Representatives would finally take a decisive stand against the cancer of
vote-buying,” Obi said, reacting to the ongoing amendments to the Electoral Act
2022 currently being considered by the lower chamber.
Obi said that hope was dashed when the House declined to
address inducement at the level of party primaries, noting that vote-buying
often begins long before general elections.
According to him, the refusal to criminalise inducement
during primaries shows an unwillingness by lawmakers to confront the root
causes of electoral malpractice.
He argued that allowing vote-buying to persist within party
processes undermines internal democracy and weakens the credibility of
elections overall, adding that genuine electoral reform must tackle corruption
at every stage of the electoral cycle, starting from party primaries.
The tweet reads in full:
"Vote Buying Must Be Stopped at the Roots
Just yesterday, Nigerians hoped that the House of
Representatives would finally take a decisive stand against the cancer of
vote-buying. This practice has long undermined our democracy and tarnished our
nation's credibility. Unfortunately, that hope was quickly extinguished.
By refusing to criminalise 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. Credible elections cannot be built
on corrupt foundations, and national progress cannot be achieved while
inducement and bribery are legitimised in the democratic process.
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.
A democracy
where votes are bought is not a true democracy; it is a criminal marketplace.
Nigeria deserves better. We must prioritise reform. The future of our democracy
must not be for sale.
Disturbingly,
the culture of vote buying has now trickled down even to town union, village
union, Clubs and associations, as well as even student elections, emulating
fraudulent politicians. How long will we allow our society to be corrupted when
the solution lies in addressing the roots of the problem?
A New Nigeria
is possible, but only if we confront these practices boldly and insist that
integrity begins at the very start of our electoral process.
A New Nigeria
is POssible. -PO"
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