The former governor of Anambra State and former Labour Party presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, has raised strong concerns over the growing trend of vote-buying in Nigeria, describing it as one of the greatest dangers confronting the nation’s democracy.
In a statement shared on his verified X handle on August 19, 2025, he said vote-buying is not an act of generosity but “a calculated investment in corruption.”
“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,” the former governor declared.
He further stressed that voters who exchange their ballots for money or material gain are equally complicit. “When you sell your vote, 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,” he added.
According to him, the desperation of politicians to buy votes shows that the ballot is priceless and remains the most powerful tool in the hands of the electorate. He urged Nigerians to rise above temporary gain and reject the politics of bribery.
“The choice is ours. 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. Let us elect leaders who will build, not loot,” the statement concluded.
Credit: @PeterObi via X.
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