
Ahead of upcoming elections, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has warned Nigerians against vote-buying, urging citizens to rise above temporary gain and avoid selling their future.
Elaborating on the consequences of vote-buying on Tuesday, he said: “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. And when they get into office, the money meant for schools, hospitals, roads, and jobs is diverted into private pockets. Such people are not leaders—they are looters. Their actions rob our society of dignity, development, and even life itself.”
The politician acknowledged that those who sell their votes are not innocent either, explaining that when they exchange their ballots for money or material gain, they are not just selling a vote — they are also selling their 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. In truth, you mortgage your tomorrow for a token that can not sustain you today,” he stated.
Obi noted that the reality is simple, stressing that looters can only loot when the key is handed to them.
The former Anambra State governor maintained that if votes had no value, no one would be desperate to buy them, emphasising that the fact that millions are spent on vote-buying proves that the ballot is priceless.
He further stated that real power does not lie in politicians’ money but in the conscience, courage, and votes of Nigerians.
“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,” he added.