Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the House of Representatives for rejecting a proposal to criminalise vote buying during party primaries.
Obi described the decision as a setback to Nigeria’s democratic reform efforts, arguing that credible elections cannot emerge from corrupt foundations. He warned that allowing inducement and bribery at the primaries perpetuates a “criminal marketplace” rather than a true democracy.
The rejected provision in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 would have imposed two years’ imprisonment without an option of fine on anyone financially inducing a delegate to influence party primaries. The House voted overwhelmingly against it during clause-by-clause consideration, removing criminal sanctions for inducement at the foundational stage of the electoral process.
Obi stressed that tackling vote buying must begin at the primaries and called for urgent reforms to restore integrity in Nigeria’s electoral system.
