Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has strongly criticized the House of Representatives for its failure to criminalize vote-buying at the crucial stage of party primaries. Obi articulated his disappointment, deeming the lower chamber's decision a significant setback for Nigeria’s democratic progress. He emphasized that vote-buying represents a fundamental issue that gravely undermines the integrity of elections within the country, and that the public's expectation for lawmakers to take a firm stand against such inducements at the primary level was ultimately unfulfilled.

In a recent statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Obi reiterated that Nigerians had harbored strong hopes that the House of Representatives would adopt a decisive position against the pervasive "cancer of vote-buying." His reaction came amidst ongoing amendments to the Electoral Act, 2022. Obi contended that the lower chamber's refusal to criminalize inducements during party primaries clearly indicates an unwillingness among lawmakers to confront the root causes of the problem. He asserted that "By refusing to criminalise vote buying at the foundational stage of party primaries, the House has chosen to protect a broken system rather than safeguard the nation’s future."

Obi further highlighted that any attempts to curb vote-buying would prove futile if the issue is not tackled from the very inception of the electoral process. The former governor of Anambra State issued a stern warning, stating that democracy effectively loses its inherent meaning when votes are exchanged for monetary gain. He also voiced profound concern over the disturbing trend wherein the culture of vote-buying has permeated beyond the realm of politics, seeping into various other societal structures, including town unions, village unions, clubs, associations, and even student elections.

Calling for urgent and bold reforms, Obi stressed that Nigeria’s democratic future must never be compromised. He firmly believes that "Any effort to stop vote buying must begin at the primaries. Without addressing the problem at its roots, any measures taken later will lack the strength to endure." He passionately argued that "A democracy where votes are bought is not a true democracy; it is a criminal marketplace. Nigeria deserves better. We must prioritise reform." Concluding his appeal, Obi underscored the necessity of confronting these practices boldly and insisting that integrity must be the cornerstone from the very beginning of Nigeria's electoral process to realize a new and just Nigeria.