Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has raised fresh concerns about the dangers of vote-buying, warning that the practice undermines democracy and robs citizens of their future.
Obi, in a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account and sighted by AFRIPOST on Tuesday, described vote-buying as a calculated investment in corruption, stressing that those who engage in it have no intention of serving the people.
“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. 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,” Obi said.
He maintained that politicians who attain office through vote-buying eventually divert funds meant for development projects into private pockets, thereby denying citizens access to quality schools, hospitals, roads, and job opportunities.
He also argued that voters who sell their ballots share in the blame for bad governance.
“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. 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,” Obi added.
The former Anambra governor noted that the desperation of politicians to spend heavily on vote-buying shows the true value of the ballot, insisting that the real power lies in the conscience and courage of the electorate.
He urged Nigerians to resist short-term gains and choose leaders committed to service and development.
“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. Every Nigerian must take responsibility. Let us reject the politics of bribery and embrace the politics of service. Let us elect leaders who will build, not loot,” Obi said, concluding with his familiar slogan, “A New Nigeria is POssible.”