By John Alechenu
The 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Occasion, LP, within the 2023 basic election, Peter Obi, has described the failure of the Home of Representatives to criminalise vote-buying throughout occasion primaries as a disservice to Nigeria’s democracy.
He defined that the apply of vote shopping for has lengthy undermined Nigeria’s electoral course of and tarnished the nation’s credibility.
Obi mentioned this in a publish entitled: “Vote Shopping for Should Be Stopped on the Roots” on his verified X deal with @PeterObi, on Sunday.
The previous Anambra State governor argued that credible elections can’t be constructed on corrupt foundations, including that nationwide progress can’t be achieved whereas inducement and bribery are legitimised within the democratic course of.
He mentioned: “Simply yesterday, Nigerians hoped that the Home of Representatives would lastly take a decisive stand in opposition to the most cancers of vote-buying.
“This apply has lengthy undermined our democracy and tarnished our nation’s credibility. Sadly, that hope was rapidly extinguished. By refusing to criminalise vote shopping for on the foundational stage of occasion primaries, the Home has chosen to guard a damaged system reasonably than safeguard the nation’s future.
“Credible elections can’t be constructed on corrupt foundations, and nationwide progress can’t be achieved whereas inducement and bribery are legitimised within the democratic course of.
“Any effort to cease vote shopping for should start on the primaries. With out addressing the issue at its roots, any measures taken later will lack the energy to endure.
“A democracy the place votes are purchased isn’t a real democracy, it’s a prison market. Nigeria deserves higher. We should prioritise reform. The way forward for our democracy should not be on the market.
“Disturbingly, the tradition of vote shopping for has now trickled down even to city union, village union, Golf equipment and associations, in addition to even pupil elections, emulating fraudulent politicians,” Obi mentioned.
“ How lengthy will we enable our society to be corrupted when the answer lies in addressing the roots of the issue?
“A New Nigeria is feasible, however provided that we confront these practices boldly and demand that integrity begins on the very begin of our electoral course of. A brand new Nigeria is feasible.”
The publish Not criminalising vote buying, disservice to democracy — Peter Obi appeared first on Vanguard News.
