Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi casting his vote during Anambra governorship election
Former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, participated in the ongoing governorship election in his home state on Saturday, casting his vote at Polling Unit 019, Umudim Akasi Agulu 2, Ward 8.
After voting, Obi spoke with journalists, expressing deep concern over the growing menace of vote buying during elections.
> “Unfortunately, those who are the victims of bad governance seem to be the ones fuelling it,” he lamented. “I’ve gone around and seen what’s happening. What you see mostly is vote buying — ₦30,000, ₦20,000, ₦15,000. The question is, if an unemployed youth sells his vote for ₦30,000, what happens next month when there’s no election?”
Obi condemned the act, stressing that citizens who trade their votes for cash are endangering their own future.
> “When you sell your vote, you’re selling your schools, your hospitals, your jobs — you’re selling away your future. That’s the painful truth,” he said. “In other countries, even within West Africa, I’ve observed elections where such things don’t happen. Journalists and citizens alike must help stop this.”
When asked about his party’s governorship candidate, George Moghalu, the former governor maintained a neutral tone, explaining that his current focus is on national development rather than local politics.
> “I’m a member of the Labour Party and, of course, I support our candidate. But everyone contesting today is my brother or sister,” Obi said. “I’m not on the ballot — I’ve been governor 13 years ago. I’m now in the ‘Champions League’ of Nigerian politics, contesting for the presidency.”
He further urged political leaders to focus on governance that genuinely improves people’s lives through better healthcare, education, and job creation.
> “Whoever wins should serve the people,” he said. “Nigeria needs real service now. We must pull our citizens out of poverty. Let’s build hospitals, train nurses, and ensure every village has at least one functional primary healthcare centre.”
Obi’s remarks added a moral dimension to the Anambra election, underscoring his call for integrity, accountability, and people-centred leadership.
