Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s electoral system to restore public trust and ensure credible democracy.
Speaking about his recent visit to Indonesia, Obi highlighted the weaknesses in Nigeria’s electoral institutions, which he said have led to compromised elections and eroded public confidence in governance.
He stressed that democracy and good governance cannot thrive in a system where electoral integrity is constantly undermined.
Obi shared insights from his discussion with Bernard Dermawan Sutrisno, Chairman of Indonesia’s General Elections Commission (KPU), describing the country’s electoral process as a model of transparency and efficiency.
He noted that Indonesia consistently records over 70% voter turnout, with the 2024 elections reaching 81%, while Nigeria, despite having 94 million registered voters, recorded less than 25% turnout due to widespread distrust in the system.
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Obi emphasized the importance of strong electoral institutions, strict candidate qualification criteria, and transparent vote counting to build public confidence.
He further pointed out that Indonesia’s electoral system ensures accountability by requiring presidential candidates to provide verifiable academic records and secure endorsements from at least 25% of National Assembly members or 20% of votes from the previous election.
Additionally, vote counting is conducted publicly at polling units, and electoral disputes are swiftly resolved. The country also operates a proportional representation system that prevents party defection, stabilizing political alliances and governance.
Obi concluded that for Nigeria to achieve true democracy, it must prioritize electoral reforms, strengthen key institutions, and ensure an independent judiciary that enforces electoral laws without bias.
He warned that without these changes, elections in Nigeria would remain mere formalities without legitimacy, perpetuating bad governance.
He urged political leaders to embrace reforms that would restore public trust in the democratic process and ensure fair and credible elections.
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