By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has slammed Nigeria’s lawmakers for not criminalizing vote buying in party primaries.
He says that it is hypocritical to claim democracy when elections are marred by vote buying.
In a statement on X, Peter Obi expressed disappointment that the House of Representatives did not address inducements in party primaries. He said, “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.”
He argues that Nigeria’s electoral process is compromised, and reforms are needed to tackle vote buying from the start. Peter Obi links the practice to a broader societal issue, saying it is seeped into other areas like town unions and student elections.
He said, “A democracy where votes are bought is not a true democracy; it is a criminal marketplace.” He is calling for urgent action to address the root cause, saying that Nigeria’s democratic future depends on it.
The House of Representatives had considered electoral reforms but did not approve measures to criminalize vote buying in party primaries. INEC and observers have documented vote buying in past elections, but enforcement remains a challenge.
