Former presidential candidate and Labour Party chieftain, Peter Obi, has sounded the alarm over escalating vote buying in Nigeria’s electoral process, warning that it undermines democracy and entrenches poor governance.

Obi spoke on Saturday after casting his vote at Polling Unit 019, Umudim Akasi village in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. He lamented that the country’s democracy is deteriorating, blaming both politicians and citizens who sell their votes for short-term financial gains.

According to Obi, reports from multiple communities indicate that inducements during the ongoing governorship election have reached alarming levels, with amounts ranging between N20,000 and N30,000 per voter.

“The question I ask is: if you sell your vote for N30,000, what will you be paid next month? By selling your vote, you are selling away schools, hospitals, jobs—your future,” Obi said.

Having observed elections in other African countries, Obi noted that such brazen vote-buying is largely unique to Nigeria. He warned that as long as voters continue to exchange their ballots for cash, the country will remain trapped in a cycle of mismanaged resources, poor governance, and deepening poverty.

“The real cost of vote buying is not the money exchanged on election day but the collapse of essential public services that follows,” he stressed. “People need to understand that when you sell your vote, you are directly endorsing the same hardships—lack of jobs, broken schools, failing hospitals. This is the reality of why things don’t work.”

Obi also urged security agencies to tackle vote buying decisively, emphasizing that the practice thrives with the complicity of political actors and the silence of institutions meant to safeguard electoral integrity.