- Obi called on Nigerians to reject temporary incentives and prioritise electing leaders committed to service, not personal plunder.
- The former governor stated that vote-buying undermines democracy, eroding dignity, development, and even life itself across communities.
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, has urged Nigerians to reject vote-buying.
The former governor of Anambra made the appeal in a post on his X page on Tuesday.
Obi described vote-buying as one of the “greatest threats to Nigeria’s democracy.”
“Vote-buying is one of the greatest dangers confronting our democracy. It is never an act of kindness; it is a calculated investment in corruption,” he wrote.
He added those who buy votes do so with only one intention—to gain access to public funds.
“By bribing voters today, they are purchasing a licence to plunder tomorrow and when they get into office, the money meant for schools, hospitals, roads, and jobs is diverted into private pockets.
“Such people are not leaders—they are looters. Their actions rob our society of dignity, development, and even life itself.”
Obi further warned that citizens who sell their votes are complicit.
“But those who sell their votes are not innocent either. When you exchange your ballot for money or material gain, you are not just selling a vote—you are selling your future,” he said.
“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.
“In truth, you mortgage your tomorrow for a token that cannot sustain you today.
“The reality is simple: looters can only loot when we hand them the key. If your vote had no value, nobody would be desperate to buy it.
“The fact that millions are spent on vote-buying shows that your ballot is priceless.
“The real power does not lie in their money. It lies in your conscience, your courage, and your vote.”
Obi urged Nigerians to recognise that their real power lies in their conscience, courage, and participation at the ballot box.
He called on citizens to rise above temporary incentives, reject bribery, and elect leaders committed to service rather than plunder.