Peter Obi warned the Nigerians against the voice trading, calling it a threat to democracy

Peter Obi, a presidential candidate from the Labor Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, has warned the Nigerians not to sell their votes, describing the practice as one of the biggest dangers for the country’s democratic system.

In a statement that was distributed in his Handke X on Tuesday, the former Governor of the State Anambra said the purchase of votes was not a good action but “investment calculated in corruption” by politicians who seek access to public funds.

“Those who buy votes do it with only one intention, to get access to public resources,” Obi wrote. “By bribing voters today, they buy a license to loot tomorrow. When they enter the office, the money intended for schools, hospitals, roads, and work is diverted to a private pocket.”

Obi believes that while the politicians involved in the action are guilty, voters who sell their ballots are also involved in damaging Nigeria’s democratic future.

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“When you exchange your ballots with money or material benefits, you don’t just sell votes, you sell your future,” he said. “You sell schools that must be attended by your children, hospitals that should save lives, and work that must lift the family from poverty. Actually, you pawn your tomorrow for tokens that cannot support you today.”

He stressed that the persistence of voting purchases proves the inherent value of the vote, urged the Nigerians to understand that “If your voice has no value, no one wants to buy it.”

According to Obi, “real power” does not lie in the money distributed during the election but in the conscience, courage, and political will of citizens to choose leaders who are committed to serving rather than looting.

LP candidates asked Nigeria to rise on temporary incentives, reject bribery, and actively participate in the democratic process.