By Onilede Titi Faith
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has warned Nigerians against vote-buying, describing it as a calculated investment in corruption that undermines democracy.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Obi said politicians who buy votes are not performing acts of kindness but securing a “licence to plunder” public resources.
“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 one intention to gain access to public funds. By bribing voters today, they are purchasing a licence to plunder tomorrow,” Obi wrote.
He stressed that vote buyers are not leaders but “looters” whose actions deny society dignity, development, and even lives.
Obi also cautioned voters against trading their ballots for money or material gain, noting that such decisions destroy their future.
“When you sell your vote, you are selling 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 cannot sustain you today,” he said.
Highlighting the desperation of politicians to buy votes as proof of the power of the ballot, the former Anambra governor urged Nigerians to protect their conscience and courage.
“Looters can only loot when we hand them the key. The real power lies not in the money spent on elections but in the conscience, courage, and votes of Nigerians,” he added.
