Ahead of the 2027 general elections, former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant agencies to verify the educational certificates of candidates seeking public office to prevent individuals with questionable backgrounds from holding positions of power.
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Obi, in a post on his verified X handle on Monday titled “The danger of making crime a norm,” highlighted that many current officeholders submitted forged certificates backed by fraudulent affidavits during the 2023 elections, yet “scaled through” INEC, security screening, and Senate approval.
He wrote: “How do you tell young Nigerians to be honest and upright when those they are supposed to emulate are the least to be emulated because they are criminals and dishonest?”
Obi recounted his visit to Indonesia earlier this year, where he met with the country’s election officials and President Joko Widodo. He learned that in Indonesia, candidates submitting forged certificates face immediate disqualification and prosecution. “If someone can forge a certificate, how can that person be trusted to lead others?” the Indonesian officials asked.
He criticized the Nigerian system, saying: “Though the laws are the same as in other countries, certificate forgery in Nigeria is often overlooked. INEC makes no effort to scrutinize certificates before elections, overlooks complaints of forgery, and when challenged afterward, courts dismiss these criminal acts as mere ‘pre-election matters.’”
Obi emphasized that dishonesty among leaders begins at the top and spreads throughout governance structures. He called for electoral reforms mandating that all candidates, whether incumbents or newcomers, submit their academic certificates immediately after party primaries—at least six months before elections. The certificates, along with details of schools, courses, and years of study, should be made public for verification within 90 days.
He further insisted that the verification process should also cover appointed officials, ministers, and aides, warning that failure to address certificate forgery fosters corruption and weakens public trust.
Obi concluded: “We must deal with certificate forgery holistically, with the seriousness and level of criminality it deserves. Criminal offences should not be dismissed as mere procedural matters. True leadership must begin with truth. A New Nigeria is possible.”
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