Rivers: Peter Obi faults National Assembly's voice vote * Says Nigeria’s democracy lacks substance

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By Madu Obi

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has criticized the state of democracy in Nigeria, describing it as compromised and devoid of genuine opposition.

He made this known while reacting to the recent parliamentary vote on the political crisis in Rivers State, which he said, exposed the fundamental weaknesses in the country’s democratic structure.

According to Obi, democracy cannot thrive where there is no functional opposition, arguing that opposition is a critical pillar of any democratic system, as it ensures accountability, promotes good governance, and provides alternative viewpoints.

“The parliamentary vote held yesterday clearly demonstrates that democracy, in its true sense, does not exist in Nigeria. Where there is no functional opposition, democracy cannot thrive,” Obi stated.

Drawing comparisons with other democratic nations, Obi pointed to countries like South Africa and Indonesia as examples of functioning systems where proportional representation and strict party discipline help preserve democratic values.

“In South Africa, for example, the National Assembly has 400 seats. The African National Congress (ANC) received about 40% of the vote and holds approximately 160 seats, while the Democratic Alliance (DA), with about 20% of the vote, holds around 80 seats—alongside several other parties. Those who contested the presidential election remain the recognized leaders of their respective parties,” he said.

Obi also highlighted Indonesia’s model, where laws prohibit elected officials from switching parties without forfeiting their seats—ensuring party loyalty and protecting the mandate of the electorate.

“If such systems were in place in Nigeria,” he said, “the Senate, which consists of 109 seats, would more accurately reflect electoral outcomes—with the APC holding 44 seats, the PDP 33 (under the leadership of Atiku Abubakar), and the Labour Party 27 (under my leadership). Ideally, the House of Representatives should mirror this balance, with approximately 144 APC members, 108 PDP members, and 90 Labour Party members.

What we are left with is not a genuine democratic system, but one that is transactional, compromised, and, in many respects, resembles organized criminality,” Obi said.