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Decries Spate of Vote Buying
- Safiu Kehinde
The 2023 Labour Party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has cast his vote at the ongoing 2025 Anambra state gubernatorial election.
Obi, as captured in a post shared on X on Saturday, arrived at Polling Unit 8 in Umudimakasi Agulu ward 2, where cast his vote.
The former Anambra state governor exercised his franchise under tight security as other voters watched.
Addressing newsmen after casting his vote, Obi decried the spate of vote buying, describing it as a worrisome case that must end.
“Unfortunately, those who are the victims of bad governance tend to be fueling it. I’ve been able to go, listen to what is happening.
“What you see is vote buying in a scale of 20, 30,000, to 50,000. The question I ask for a young person who is unemployed, if he sells his vote for N30,000, what is he going to be paid next month when there is no voting?
“By selling your vote, you are selling your school, your job. You are selling away your future. And that is what is very worrisome.
“Other countries, even West African countries where I have observed elections, I didn’t see this happening.
“So, for you people who are journalists, you must complain. This must be stop.” He said.
Speaking on the candidate he supported, the ex-Anambra governor reaffirmed that he remains a Labour Party member and as such supported the party’s candidate, George Moghalu.
He however maintained that he remains friend with other candidates.
“I am a member of the Labour Party, and I support the Labour Party candidate. But virtually, everybody that are my brothers and sisters. I’ve been governor 13 years ago.
“I’m strictly in the Champions League of the Nigerian politics and contesting to be President of Nigeria.
“For people who are in first division, I’m sure they will do very well. Whoever win, let them serve the people. Nigeria needs service. We need to put our people out of poverty.
“Our people need to know that things are working.” He said.
On the performance of INEC and his take on the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, who is overseeing his first ever election since his appointment, Obi charged him to serve the people, stressing that his name and reputation is at stake.
“I’ve congratulated the INEC Chairman and told him to look at what happened to his predecessor. All I can say to him is that the name and reputation the children will live on is at stake.
“None of us will be in position forever. So, it is important that while you are there, try and serve the people. Try and service humanity.” He added.