By RismadarVoice Media
December 21, 2025
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has faulted the House of Representatives for rejecting proposals to criminalize vote-buying at the level of party primaries, describing the decision as a major setback for Nigeria’s democratic development.
Obi made his position known in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday while reacting to the ongoing consideration of amendments to the Electoral Act, 2022, by the House of Representatives.
He said many Nigerians had expected lawmakers to take a decisive stance against vote-buying, which he described as one of the biggest threats to credible elections in the country.
“Just yesterday, Nigerians hoped that the House of Representatives would finally take a decisive stand against the cancer of vote-buying,” Obi wrote.
According to him, the refusal to criminalize inducement at party primaries indicates an unwillingness to address the problem at its foundation.
“By refusing to criminalize 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 stated.
The former Anambra State Governor argued that any meaningful effort to curb vote-buying must begin at the primaries, warning that reforms introduced later in the electoral process would lack sustainability.
“Any effort to stop vote-buying must begin at the primaries. Without addressing the problem at its roots, measures taken later will lack the strength to endure,” he said.
Obi further warned that democracy loses its essence when votes are exchanged for money, describing such a system as a distortion of democratic values.
“A democracy where votes are bought is not a true democracy; it is a criminal marketplace. Nigeria deserves better. We must prioritize reform,” he added.
He also expressed concerns over what he described as the spread of vote-buying culture beyond partisan politics into other spheres of society.
“Disturbingly, the culture of vote-buying has now trickled down even to town unions, village unions, clubs and associations, as well as student elections,” Obi said.
He concluded by calling for bold, comprehensive reforms, insisting that Nigeria’s democratic future must be protected.
“The future of our democracy must not be sold. A new Nigeria is possible; only if we confront these practices boldly, insist that integrity begins at the very start of our electoral process,” he said.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives, on Thursday, approved stiffer penalties for several electoral offences while considering amendments to the Electoral Act, 2022. Lawmakers increased the fine for forging nomination papers or election result sheets from ₦50 million to ₦75 million or a 10-year jail term, and approved a ₦5 million fine for the improper use of a voter’s card.
However, the House 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 lawmakers also removed a clause mandating the cancellation of election results in polling units where over-voting occurs, replacing it with a framework that allows excess votes to be deducted proportionately from candidates’ scores, while the presiding officer involved would face prosecution.
