Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has launched a scathing attack on Nigeria’s democratic system, branding it transactional and lacking true opposition.
Obi’s blistering critique followed Thursday’s parliamentary vote,which he claimed exposed deep flaws in the nation’s democracy. In a statement on Friday via X, the former Anambra governor questioned the legitimacy of Nigeria’s legislative structure arguing that it is designed to suppress opposition rather than foster accountability.
Where there is no functional opposition, democracy cannot thrive, Obi declared. What we have is not a real democracy but an organized system of political criminality.
He slammed Nigeria’s lack of proportional representation, contrasting it with South Africa and Indonesia, where electoral mandates are better reflected in parliamentary seats. Obi pointed out that in South Africa, the ANC holds 160 of 400 seats with 40% of the vote, while Nigeria’s system allows rampant party defections that distort electoral outcomes.
The absence of laws restricting party defection allows politicians to switch allegiances freely and without consequence. This weakens the opposition, mocks the electorate’s will, and undermines the integrity of our democratic institutions, Obi fumed.
Had Nigeria adopted a similar structure, Obi argued, the current Senate would look dramatically different, with the APC holding just 44 seats, PDP leading with 33, and the Labour Party controlling 27.Instead, he claimed, the system has been manipulated to favor the ruling party and suppress alternative voices.
Obi didn’t mince words in his dire warning, stating that unless urgent reforms are enacted to enforce party discipline and fair representation, Nigeria’s democracy will remain fragile and dysfunctional.
We will not surrender to criminality. We will continue to fight for democracy—genuine democracy, he vowed.
His remarks have sparked intense debate, with critics accusing him of inciting political instability, while supporters argue he is simply exposing the harsh truth about Nigeria’s corrupt political system.
