The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General Election Peter Obi On Saturday applauded South Africa for being a shinning example of democracy in Africa.
Obi who tweeted on his verified X-handle indicated that there was 60% Voter turnout, over 90% of polling opened on time, diaspora voting, results and updates were 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% of the Voter turnout and over 60% of the polling stations starting late, no diaspora voting, 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 =N=313 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 Center, 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 is Possible!”
In the final results of the South African Election, The African National Congress (ANC) received 40.18% of the total votes, short of a majority.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) received the second-highest number of votes (21.81%).
MK party received 14.58% of the total votes.
EFF received 9.52% of the total votes.
The ANC will need to make a deal with other parties to form a coalition government, as they do not hold a majority.
The South African election voter turnout was 58.64%, the lowest in South Africa’s 30-year democratic history.