Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has faulted the House of Representatives for declining to criminalise vote-buying during party primaries, warning that the decision undermines efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
Obi expressed his views in a post on X on Sunday while reacting to the ongoing amendments to the Electoral Act, 2022, currently being considered by the House.
He said many Nigerians had expected lawmakers to take a tougher stance 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.
According to him, the refusal to criminalise inducement at the stage of party primaries showed a lack of political will to address the problem at its foundation.
“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,” he stated.
The former Anambra State governor argued that any serious attempt to curb vote-buying must begin at the earliest stage of the electoral 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,” Obi said.
He further warned that democracy is devalued when votes are exchanged for money, insisting that such practices erode public trust in elections.
“A democracy where votes are bought is not a true democracy; it is a criminal marketplace. Nigeria deserves better. We must prioritise reform,” he added.
Obi also raised concerns that the practice of vote-buying has spread beyond political elections into other aspects of society.
“Disturbingly, the culture of vote-buying has now trickled down even to town unions, village unions, clubs and associations, as well as student elections,” he said.
He concluded by calling for comprehensive and courageous reforms, stressing that Nigeria’s democratic future should not be compromised.
“The future of our democracy must not be for sale. 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 said.
The House of Representatives had, on Thursday, approved stiffer penalties for several electoral offences while considering amendments to the Electoral Act, 2022.
Lawmakers increased the fine for forging nomination papers or election result sheets from ₦50m to ₦75m or a 10-year jail term and approved a ₦5m fine for the improper use of a voter’s card.
However, the House rejected a proposal seeking a two-year jail term for individuals who financially or materially induce delegates to influence the outcome of party primaries, congresses or conventions, citing fears that such provisions could be abused to harass political opponents.
Lawmakers also removed a clause mandating the cancellation of election results in polling units where over-voting occurs, replacing it with a system that allows excess votes to be deducted proportionately from candidates’ scores, while the presiding officer faces prosecution.
