The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General Election, Peter Obi, yesterday, applauded South Africa for being a shining example of democracy in Africa.
Obi, who tweeted on his verified X-handle, noted that there was 60 per cent voter turnout, with over 90 per cent of the polling units opening time, diaspora voting, and results updated real-time without any form of technical glitches during the election.
“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.”
This, he said, demonstrated the robustness and transparency of their system. “The seamless online dissemination of results further highlights their commitment to democratic principles and technological advancement.
Explaining further, Obi said the outcome of the South African exercise is in sharp contrast to the show of shame that the giant of Africa, Nigeria, gave the world in 2023.
“Nigeria’s 2023 election, with less than 30 per cent of the voter turning out and over 60 per cent of the polling stations starting late, with no diaspora voting, aside the elections were plagued by allegations of fraud and widespread irregularities, all forms of glitches, despite an enormous expenditure to the tune of about a billion dollars (direct allocation of N313 Billion and donor agencies supports).
“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.
“The process has been widely discredited. The differences between the two countries’ electoral processes are both stark and lamentable. South Africa’s election results centre, with its state-of-the-art electronic board, showcased results with unparalleled precision and speed.
“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.”
