By CHIDI MATTHEW NWACHUKWU

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has again harped on the need to build strong institutions in the quest for a more progressive and functional Nigeria.

He stressed this on his X (formerly Twitter) handle this Wednesday morning, February 12, 2025, while narrating his experience during his recent visit to Indonesia.

Obi stated that there is a sharp contrast between the electoral systems of Indonesia and Nigeria, stressing that the strongest obstacle to Nigeria?s quest for a credible democracy is the lack of credible elections.

He further alluded to the fact that the people?s distrust for the electoral bodies and their ways of conducting elections is a major cause of voter apathy and lack of interest in the electoral business.

?Still, in my Indonesia experience, one of the greatest obstacles to credible democracy and, consequently, good governance in Nigeria is the lack of credible elections, brought about by the glaring weakness of our electoral institutions and the persistent disregard for the rule of law.

?Democracy and good governance cannot thrive where the electoral process is compromised, and public confidence in its outcomes is eroded,? stated Obi.

The Labour Party stalwart also highlighted the procedures inherent in the Indonesian electoral system that have ensured that the country's elections are free, fair, credible, and widely-accepted by the people.

He stated that the Indonesian electoral system subjects contestants to various electoral positions to tough scrutiny, so that those who manage to scale through such rigorous vetting processes are absolutely qualified and capable of occupying the offices they are contesting for.

?A key highlight of our discussion on electoral transparency centred on candidate qualification. To contest in Indonesia?s presidential elections, a candidate must provide verifiable records of primary, secondary, and at least a university degree.

?Non-compliance leads to immediate disqualification. Beyond educational qualifications, candidates must also meet strict eligibility criteria. They must secure the endorsement of at least 25% of National Assembly members or have obtained at least 20% of the votes in the previous presidential election,? disclosed Obi.

And summing up the narration of his experience in Indonesia, Obi stated that his interaction with Indonesia?s Chairman and Secretary of General Elections Commission, Bernard Dermawan Sutrisno, further revealed to him that Nigeria is still far behind in terms of voter participation in elections which he ascribed to lack of trust by the electorate.

?During my learning visit to Indonesia, I had a useful discussion with the Chairman and Secretary-General of Indonesia?s General Elections Commission (KPU), Mr. Bernard Dermawan Sutrisno, about the nation?s electoral process?a system that stands in stark contrast to ours.

?With increased confidence in the electoral process, Indonesia?s national elections have consistently recorded over 70% voter participation, with the most recent election in 2024 reaching 81%. In contrast, Nigeria, despite having 94 million registered voters, recorded an abysmal turnout of less than 25%?a direct consequence of growing distrust in the electoral process,? said Obi.

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