The Northern Awareness Network has criticized Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, for his comments on the recent South African election.
Obi had drawn comparisons between the electoral processes of Nigeria and South Africa, lamenting disparities in transparency.
In response, the group’s chairman, Salihu Suleiman, dismissed Obi’s comparison as misleading and ridiculous.
Suleiman noted that South Africa has a long history of democracy, having undergone significant political reforms over several decades. In contrast, Nigeria transitioned to democracy only in 1999 after years of military rule.
Suleiman argued that Obi’s attempt to juxtapose the electoral experiences of both countries demonstrates a lack of understanding of their respective political situations.
He stated, “The two countries are at different stages of democratic development, and it would be more prudent to focus on addressing the specific challenges facing the Nigerian electoral system rather than drawing unwarranted comparisons.”.
The group emphasized that Nigeria’s electoral system is still in its infancy and that comparing it to South Africa’s more mature democracy is inaccurate and unfair to the Nigerian people, who have been working diligently to build a functioning democracy.
Obi has been urged to concentrate on addressing the specific challenges facing the Nigerian electoral system rather than making such comparisons.
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