By Rafiyat Sadiq
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the practice of vote-buying, describing it as one of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement shared on his official X account, Obi said politicians who spend millions of naira to buy votes, do so with the intention of looting public resources once they assume office.
“Vote-buying is never an act of kindness; it is a calculated investment in corruption,” Obi wrote. “Those who buy votes do so with only one intention which is to gain access to public funds. By bribing voters today, they are purchasing a licence to plunder tomorrow.”
He added that such leaders divert funds meant for schools, hospitals, roads, and jobs into private pockets, insisting that they are looters, not leaders.
Obi also blamed citizens who sell their votes, stressing that they equally contribute to the cycle of poverty and bad governance.
READ ALSO:Obi’s Style of Politics: Hope for the Masses or Hustle for Power
“When you exchange your ballot for money or material gain, you are not just selling a vote, you are selling your future,” he warned. “You are selling away the schools your children should attend, the hospitals that should save lives, and the jobs that should lift families out of poverty.”
He maintained that the desperation of politicians to buy votes proves the value of the ballot. According to him, the real power lies not in the money offered by politicians but in the conscience, courage, and decision of the voter.
“The choice is ours,” Obi declared. “We either keep selling our votes and remain trapped in poverty and bad governance, or we rise above temporary gain and reclaim the future of our nation. Every Nigerian must take responsibility. Let us reject the politics of bribery and embrace the politics of service.”
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
