By TINA TIMOTHY

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has frowned at the conduct of the Saturday, September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election in Edo state, describing the process as a ?blatant example of 'state capture' and continued gross undermining of our democratic process and values.?

Lamenting that the leadership recruitment process is so fatally flawed, Obi, on his verified X handle @PeterObi, on Monday, September 23, called on those in authority to reject such process, adding that investing in the IReV and BVAS was to ?free our electoral process from the massive falsification that has plagued it and worsening.?

"What happened over the weekend in the name of election in Edo State does not in any way represent the democratic process we chose as a method of electing our political leadership.

?Instead, it was a blatant example of 'state capture' and continued gross undermining of our democratic process and values.

?Any nation whose leadership recruitment process is so fatally flawed is doomed, and we are all seeing the effect in our country.

?I urge those in authority not to allow this situation to stand, or depend on it to remain in power.

?As a country, we have invested significantly in IReV and BVAS, and they must be allowed to function and used properly in order to free our electoral process from the massive falsification that has plagued it and worsening,? Obi wrote.

He further reminded agencies, individuals, lecturers and others using their positions of authority to undermine the nation's democracy that, apart from not holding such positions forever, ?the damage you are causing today will inevitably take revenge on you tomorrow and affect your children in the future,? adding that ?today?s politics is not about capturing power, but about saving the country and making it work for everyone, regardless of their background.?

?To the agencies and individuals being used to undermine our democracy simply because they hold positions of authority, please remember that your time in office is not eternal. The society that you are helping to destroy today will eventually take her revenge on you tomorrow.

?To the lecturers and others complicit in perpetuating this charade, you must reflect deeply on the roles you are playing in damaging the very foundation of our democracy.

?The damage you are causing today will inevitably take revenge on you tomorrow and affect your children in the future.

?This kind of action has no place in a true democracy. That is why I have always maintained that today?s politics is not about capturing power, but about saving the country and making it work for everyone, regardless of their background.

?I remain committed to building a new and truly democratic Nigeria, which I insist is very possible. he added.

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