The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other pertinent organizations have been urged by Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, to confirm and authenticate all political candidates’ professional and academic credentials prior to the general elections in 2027.
In a statement titled “Certificate Integrity and the Future of Nigerian Leadership,” which was published on X on Thursday, Obi claimed that honesty and openness in the choosing of leaders are essential to the legitimacy of Nigeria’s democracy.
Following scandals involving inconsistencies in his academic records, he praised Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, for resigning, calling it “a decent and honorable step.”
He further mentioned that under similar conditions, former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun resigned under the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
These incidents serve as a reminder that these issues are significant criminal offenses and are not to be taken lightly, Obi stated.
To guarantee the integrity of the 2027 elections, he encouraged INEC to start verifying the credentials that all candidates—from the president to local government council members—submitted right away.
The fact that our electoral authority does not do enough due diligence to verify the certifications that candidates submit is disgusting. Ongoing inconsistencies, fraudulent statements, and falsified qualifications damage our democracy’s confidence,” he said.
The former governor of Anambra State emphasized that Nigerian leadership must be built on honesty, openness, and accountability because only then can public service be based on honor rather than dishonesty.
Obi also demanded a complete nationwide examination of the background and qualification checks for all public office holders, pointing to Ghana as an example of a nation that carefully verifies candidates’ educational claims prior to elections.
“INEC is sufficiently staffed to look into previous complaints regarding various types of forgeries and fraudulent statements. For verification and public access, all current and prospective candidates must promptly disclose their academic credentials,” he continued.
