The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized the conduct of the just-concluded local government elections in Rivers State, where the All Progressives Congress (APC) reportedly won 20 out of 23 local government areas.
In a post on his official X account, Obi described the process as “a mockery of democracy.” He argued that the election, which was conducted under the supervision of Sole Administrator Ibas Ibok, was illegal and unfair to the people of Rivers State. According to him, it is wrong for a sole administrator, who was not elected by the people, to organize an election that should give citizens the power to choose their leaders.
“This is not democracy,” Obi wrote. “It is a complete abuse of it. Any structure built on illegality is dangerous to both the people and the state.”
He warned that Nigeria cannot make real progress if elections are reduced to political manipulations instead of allowing citizens to freely choose their leaders, especially at the local government level where government meets the people directly.
Obi added that true democracy must respect the “sanctity of the ballot” and protect the people’s right to vote. He urged Nigerians to demand free, fair, and credible elections, stressing that leaders at all levels should derive their authority only from the people’s mandate.
Concluding his message, Obi said, “A new Nigeria is possible,” if the country returns to genuine democracy that prioritizes fairness, justice, and the will of the people.
