Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General Election, praised South Africa’s election as a shining example, contrasting it with Nigeria’s 2023 polls, which he deemed ‘shameful’.
The former presidential candidate disclosed the information via a post on his verified X handle on Saturday.
Obi remarked that the differences in the electoral procedures of both nations are unfortunate, indicating Nigeria’s enduring challenges with democratic governance.
He expressed, “The recent South African election results exemplify a transparent and efficient democratic electoral process. With approximately 60% voter turnout, over 90% of polling stations opening punctually, and diaspora voting allowed, real-time results and updates were provided seamlessly without any technical issues.
This sharply contrasts with the ‘show of shame’ demonstrated by Nigeria, the giant of Africa, in 2023. The election recorded less than 30% voter turnout, over 60% of polling stations starting late, absence of diaspora voting, and was marred by allegations of fraud and widespread irregularities.
Obi Mentioned that despite massive spending amounting to about a billion dollars (including a direct allocation of ₦313 billion and support from donor agencies), Nigeria’s 2023 election encountered numerous glitches.
