Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, has strongly condemned the recent parliamentary proceedings, describing Nigeria’s democratic system as deeply flawed and accusing lawmakers of engaging in unconstitutional behavior that suppresses opposition and weakens democratic institutions.
In a recent statement shared on X, Obi said “where there is no functional opposition, democracy cannot thrive.”
He emphasized that the parliamentary vote held recently was further proof that Nigeria operates a system that lacks genuine opposition, making democracy ineffective.
According to him, the absence of proportional representation has allowed the ruling party to dominate the political space unchecked, making it impossible for alternative voices to hold them accountable.
Obi compared Nigeria’s democratic structure to those of South Africa and Indonesia, where proportional representation ensures fairer governance. “In South Africa, for example, the National Assembly has 400 seats.
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The ANC received about 40% of the vote and holds approximately 160 seats, while the DA, with about 20% of the vote, holds around 80 seats. Those who contested the presidential election remain the recognised leaders of their respective parties,” he explained.
He explained that if Nigeria adopted this model, the Senate would reflect actual voting patterns, with the APC holding 44 seats, the PDP 33 under Atiku Abubakar’s leadership, and the Labour Party 27 under his own leadership.
Lamenting the ease with which Nigerian politicians switch parties without consequences, Obi described the current political system as “transactional and compromised.”
He warned that unless urgent reforms are implemented to protect the opposition and ensure proportional representation, democracy in Nigeria would remain fragile and dysfunctional.
“What we are left with is not a genuine democratic system but one that, in many respects, resembles organized criminality,” Obi stated.
He, however, vowed not to relent in his push for electoral reforms, insisting, “We will not surrender to criminality. We shall continue to fight for democracy—genuine democracy.”
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