The Labour Party presidential candidate for 2023 polls, Peter Obi, has lauded the South African national election as he described Nigeria’s 2023 polls as ‘shameful’.
Obi stated this in a series of posts via his X page, stressing that the election was marred by glitches despite the enormous money spent to conduct the exercise.
He wrote, “The outcome of the recent South African election results remains a shining example of what a transparent and efficient democratic electoral process should look like.
“With about 60% voter turnout, over 90% of polling stations opening on time, and allowing diaspora voting, the results and updates were provided in real-time without any technical glitches during the election.
“This demonstrated the robustness and transparency of their system. The seamless online dissemination of results further highlights their commitment to democratic principles and technological advancement.
“This is in stark contrast to the ‘show of shame’ that the giant of Africa, Nigeria, presented to the world in 2023. Nigeria’s 2023 election, with less than 30% voter turnout and over 60% of polling stations starting late, no diaspora voting, and plagued by allegations of fraud and widespread irregularities, experienced all forms of glitches despite enormous expenditure to the tune of about a billion dollars (direct allocation of ₦313 billion and donor agencies’ support).
“The process has been widely discredited. The differences between the two countries’ electoral processes are both stark and lamentable. South Africa’s Election Results Center, with its state-of-the-art electronic board, showcased results with unparalleled precision and speed.
“Meanwhile, Nigeria’s electoral process is mired in controversy and lacks transparency. This glaring
juxtaposition is a painful reminder of our country’s ongoing struggles with democratic governance.
“It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive electoral reforms to ensure that our elections are free, fair, and credible. We must learn from South Africa’s example and strive to build a system that restores the people’s faith in our democracy.
“The time for action is now, and we cannot afford to delay any longer in addressing these critical issues for a new Nigeria is POssible!”
Obi’s outburst comes several months after the Supreme Court affirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, winner of the 2023 presidential election.
The South African election was held last week Wednesday. It was adjudged the country’s most competitive since 1994 as the African National Congress failed to win majority seats for the first time.
Incumbent President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC polled 40.21 per cent of the votes cast, a huge decline from the 57 per cent it polled in 2019. John Steenhuisn’s Democratic Alliance came second in the election, polling 22 per cent of the votes.
Newly formed former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto we Sizwe polled 15 per cent of the vote, displacing radical Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighter party, which polled nine per cent.