Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has cautioned Nigerians against the dangers of vote-buying, describing the practice as one of the greatest threats to the country’s democracy.
In a message posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Obi stressed that vote-buying is not an act of kindness but a calculated investment in corruption by politicians seeking to plunder public funds once in office.
“Those who buy votes do so with only one intention—to gain access to public resources,” he wrote.
“By bribing voters today, they are purchasing a licence to loot tomorrow. Money meant for schools, hospitals, roads, and jobs ends up in private pockets.”
Obi also rebuked voters who exchange their ballots for cash or material inducements, warning that they are “selling away the schools their children should attend, the hospitals that should save lives, and the jobs that should lift families out of poverty.”
READ ALSO: Vote Buying Is ‘Investment in Corruption’ – Peter Obi Warns Nigerians
He stressed that the desperation of politicians to buy votes only proves the priceless value of every ballot, insisting that the true power lies not in money but in the conscience and courage of the electorate.
“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,” Obi declared.
The former Anambra State governor urged Nigerians to embrace what he called the “politics of service” and reject inducements that mortgage the nation’s future.
Obi concluded with a call for national renewal, writing: “A New Nigeria is Possible.”