Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has criticised the House of Representatives for allegedly refusing to criminalise vote buying during party primaries, calling the decision a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic future.
Obi expressed his position on his official X handle on Sunday, in response to the ongoing review of the Electoral Act, 2022.
He noted that many Nigerians had hoped lawmakers would take a firm stand against vote buying, a practice he said has long undermined elections and weakened democratic institutions.
“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,” Obi stated.
He faulted the lawmakers for what he described as a deliberate failure to address the problem at its root, arguing that credible elections cannot exist if corruption is allowed at the primary stage.
“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,” Obi said.
Obi stressed that any serious effort to curb vote buying must start with party primaries. He warned that reforms limited to the general election stage would be weak and ineffective.
He further noted that the culture of vote buying has spread beyond mainstream politics, reaching town unions, clubs, associations, and even student elections, mimicking fraudulent political practices.
“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,” he declared.
Obi reiterated his message on national renewal, insisting that meaningful change is achievable if the country confronts electoral malpractice boldly.
“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,” he said.
Earlier reports indicate that the House of Representatives, while approving stiffer penalties for several electoral offences, rejected a proposal seeking a two-year jail term for anyone who induces delegates to influence outcomes at party primaries, citing fears of abuse.
The House also replaced the clause mandating outright cancellation of election results in polling units with a framework allowing excess votes to be proportionally deducted from candidates’ totals, while prosecuting the presiding officer involved.
