Peter Obi, a former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has faulted the house of representatives over its refusal to criminalise vote-buying at party primaries.
In a post on X on Sunday, the former Anambra governor said Nigerians had expected a firm legislative response to what he described as the “cancer of vote-buying” weakening the nation’s electoral process.
Obi said the lawmakers’ decision represents a troubling setback for Nigeria’s democratic development as the country looks ahead to the 2027 general elections.
“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 wrote.
The LP chieftain said elections lacking integrity at their foundation cannot produce credible leadership outcomes.
According to him, tackling inducement in politics must begin where candidates first emerge if reforms are to have lasting impact.
“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 warned that a political order sustained by bribery and inducement cannot drive national development or democratic accountability.
The former presidential candidate added that a system where votes are traded reduces democracy to a “criminal marketplace” rather than a genuine expression of popular will.
He expressed concern that vote-buying has spread beyond mainstream politics into community groups and informal organisations.
“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 said.
He also urged the lawmakers and political actors to treat electoral reform as an urgent national priority ahead of 2027.
