Peter Obi rebukes Reps over vote-buying stance

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has issued a scathing assessment of the House of Representatives, accusing lawmakers of entrenching political corruption by failing to criminalize vote-buying during party primaries.

In a detailed critique shared via X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, the former Anambra State Governor expressed deep disappointment that the legislature missed a critical opportunity to sanitize Nigeria’s democratic landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections. He argued that the “foundational stage” of the electoral process remains the most vulnerable point for financial inducement.

“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,” Obi wrote.

The Labour Party leader contended that it is impossible to expect a clean general election when the initial selection of candidates is marred by bribery. He emphasized that genuine reform cannot be achieved through half-measures or delayed interventions.

“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.

Beyond the halls of power, Obi warned that the failure to check political bribery has led to a societal contagion. He lamented that the conduct of the political class is being mirrored in smaller, community-based elections, creating what he termed a “criminal marketplace.”

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“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 noted.

Concluding his appeal, Obi urged both lawmakers and the Nigerian public to demand more robust electoral reforms to ensure that leadership is determined by merit and vision rather than the highest bidder.

“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,” Obi added.

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