By Editorial Staff 
The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has criticised the House of Representatives for failing to criminalise vote-buying during party primaries.
Obi’s reaction followed the rejection by the lawmakers on Thursday of a move to remove a clause seeking amendment of the Electoral Act 2022 to criminalise the inducement of voters during party primaries.
The former Anambra State governor said that Nigerians had hoped the lower legislative chamber would take a stance against the practice, which he described as a “cancer” that has long eroded the credibility of elections in Nigeria.
“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,” he said on his X handle on Sunday.
According to Obi, credible elections are impossible when the foundations are corrupt, “and national progress cannot be achieved while inducement and bribery are legitimised in the democratic process.”
He said the failure of the lawmakers to stop vote-buying through legislation is like toying with democratic ideals, calling such a place a “criminal marketplace.”
“How long will we allow our society to be corrupted when the solution lies in addressing the roots of the problem?” he asked, stating that “the future of our democracy must not be for sale.”