Former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has passionately appealed to Nigerians to resist the temptation of selling their votes, stressing that the practice undermines democracy and mortgages the future of generations to come.
Obi made the call following the just-concluded Anambra by-elections, where reports of vote buying once again marred the credibility of the electoral process.
Addressing the issue, Obi warned:
“To those who sell their votes, you are not just selling an election, you are selling the very opportunities that would have lifted you and your family out of poverty. You are selling the schools that your children should have attended, the hospitals that should save your loved ones, and the jobs that would have given you dignity and a better life. Those who buy your vote are only buying it to make a profit from the seat of power, not to serve you.”
He described vote selling as one of the biggest obstacles to Nigeria’s progress, as it empowers corrupt politicians while denying citizens good governance, accountability, and the dividends of democracy.
Obi emphasized that elections should be about competence, vision, and service delivery, not about transactional politics. He urged Nigerians, especially the youth, to protect their future by standing against the monetization of elections.
According to him, a society that allows its votes to be bought and sold is one that indirectly chooses poverty, insecurity, and bad governance.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, civil society groups, and faith-based organizations to intensify awareness campaigns against vote selling and vote buying ahead of future elections.
The former Anambra State governor concluded by reminding Nigerians that true power lies in the ballot, not in temporary financial inducements:
“If we want schools that work, hospitals that save lives, and jobs that empower our youths, we must reject the short-term lure of vote selling and stand for leaders who will serve the people.”
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