The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has faulted the House of Representatives for its refusal to criminalise vote-buying at the level of party primaries, saying the green chamber chose to protect a broken system over safeguarding the nation’s future.

Obi said this in a Sunday statement shared on X.

The former Anambra governor was reacting to the ongoing amendments to the Electoral Act, 2022, by the House of Representatives.

Obi said the House disappointed a lot of Nigerians that hoped it would finally take a decisive stand against the cancer of vote-buying.

Obi noted that vote-buying has long undermined the nation’s democracy and tarnished its credibility.

The opposition leader said, “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.

“Credible elections cannot be built on corrupt foundations, and national progress cannot be achieved while inducement and bribery are legitimised in the democratic 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 maintained that a democracy where votes are bought is not a true democracy but a criminal marketplace.

“Disturbingly, the culture of vote buying has now trickled down even to town union, village union, Clubs and associations, as well as even student elections, emulating fraudulent politicians. How long will we allow our society to be corrupted when the solution lies in addressing the roots of the problem?

“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 stated.

The sun