Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to resist vote buying, describing it as an investment in corruption.

Obi gave the admonition in a post on his X handle on Monday.

The former Anambra state Governor appealed to citizens to register, collect, and safeguard their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), which he described as the “bridge to a new Nigeria.”

He said those who buy votes do so to gain access to public funds for personal enrichment.

“Those who buy votes are not offering you charity; they only invest in their own corruption. They buy votes so that they can buy their way into our treasury to steal public money. Such people are not leaders, they are criminals in disguise,” Obi wrote.

The former Anambra State governor warned that selling votes amounts to mortgaging future opportunities for education, healthcare, and jobs.

He stressed that democracy can only thrive if Nigerians take responsibility by voting for leaders with “competence, character, capacity, and compassion.”

“Our democracy is at stake. That is why I urge every eligible Nigerian to register, collect, and safeguard your PVC, and when the time comes, use it wisely,” he added.