Obi Faults Reps’ Refusal To Criminalise Vote Buying At Party Primaries

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has criticised the House of Representatives over its alleged refusal to criminalise vote buying at the level of party primaries, describing the decision as a major setback for Nigeria’s democratic future.

Obi made his position known in a post on his official X handle on Sunday, while reacting to the ongoing amendments to the Electoral Act, 2022, currently being considered by the House of Representatives.

According to him, many Nigerians had hoped the lawmakers would “finally take a decisive stand against the cancer of vote-buying,” a practice he said has for years undermined the credibility of elections and weakened democratic institutions in the country.

“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 confront the problem at its foundation, arguing that elections cannot be credible if corruption is allowed to thrive 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,” he said. “Credible elections cannot be built on corrupt foundations, and national progress cannot be achieved while inducement and bribery are legitimised in the democratic process.”

He stressed that any serious effort to curb vote buying must begin from party primaries, warning that reforms introduced only at the general election stage would be weak and ineffective.

The former Anambra State governor further warned that the consequences of unchecked vote buying now extend beyond mainstream politics, noting that the culture has infiltrated grassroots and social institutions across the country.

“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,” Obi said. “How long will we allow our society to be corrupted when the solution lies in addressing the roots of the problem?”

Describing a system driven by inducement as fundamentally flawed, Obi said democracy loses its essence when votes are commodified.

“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.

He reiterated his long-held message on national renewal, insisting that meaningful change is still achievable if the country confronts electoral malpractice head-on.

“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.

Meanwhile, LEADERSHIP had earlier reported that the House of Representatives, on Thursday, approved stiffer penalties for several electoral offences while considering amendments to the Electoral Act, 2022.

The House increased the fine for forging nomination papers or election result sheets from ₦50 million to ₦75 million, with an alternative of a 10-year jail term. It also approved a ₦5 million fine for the improper use of a voter’s card.

However, lawmakers 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 concerns that such provisions could be abused to harass political opponents.

The House also removed a clause mandating the outright cancellation of election results in polling units where over-voting occurs.

In its place, lawmakers approved a framework allowing excess votes to be deducted proportionately from candidates’ totals, while the presiding officer involved faces prosecution.