Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, has described the outcome of the recent South African election results as a shining example of what a transparent and efficient democratic electoral process should look like.
Obi said this was in stark contrast to the “show of shame”
that the giant of Africa, Nigeria, presented to the world in 2023, referring to
Nigeria’s last general election.
According to him, the glaring juxtaposition is a painful
reminder of Nigeria’s ongoing struggles with democratic governance.
The former Anambra State Governor stressed that the South
African election demonstrated the robustness and transparency of their system.
He pointed out that the seamless online dissemination of
results further highlighted their commitment to democratic principles and
technological advancement.
However, Obi decried the fact that Nigeria’s electoral
process is mired in controversy and lacks transparency.
He said: “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!”
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