As the 2027 general elections draw near, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission and other relevant agencies to thoroughly verify all certificates submitted by political candidates. He stressed that such scrutiny is essential to stop individuals with questionable credentials from occupying public offices.
Obi expressed concern that several public officials currently hold forged certificates supported by false affidavits, adding that many of them successfully passed screenings by INEC, security agencies, and even the Senate during the 2023 elections.
He made the remarks in a post shared on his verified X account, titled “The Danger of Making Crime a Norm.” In the post, Obi lamented that those expected to serve as examples of integrity and morality in society have instead become the source of Nigeria’s decay. According to him, it is difficult to convince young Nigerians to live honestly when many of their leaders have built their reputations on deceit and fraud.
Describing certificate forgery as a serious criminal act, Obi emphasized that it is heavily punished in most countries around the world. He recalled an experience during a visit to Indonesia earlier in the year, where he met with several government officials, including the Chairman of the General Elections Commission. When he asked what would happen if a candidate presented a forged certificate, the official reportedly responded that such a person would be immediately disqualified and prosecuted, asking, “If someone can forge a certificate, how can that person be trusted to lead others?”
Obi contrasted this with Nigeria’s situation, where, despite having similar laws, INEC rarely scrutinizes certificates before elections. He noted that allegations of forgery are often ignored, and when raised after elections, courts dismiss them as pre-election matters without proper investigation or punishment. He added that INEC has also failed to revisit or investigate past allegations of forgery, even as new elections approach.
He further criticized the loopholes that allow dishonest candidates to pass through multiple screening stages undetected, calling it a double tragedy that many of them also swear false affidavits to validate their forged documents.
Obi urged INEC to begin investigating all past cases of certificate forgery ahead of the next general elections, insisting that candidates must be required to submit their academic records at least six months before the polls. He proposed that these documents, including details of schools attended and courses studied, should be made public for verification within 90 days.
According to him, the same process should apply to appointed officials, ministers, and aides, as dishonesty in leadership often trickles down to every level of governance. He stressed the need to treat certificate forgery with the seriousness it deserves, describing it as a grave criminal act that should never be dismissed as a mere procedural issue.
Obi concluded by urging Nigerians to reject deceit in leadership and reward honesty instead, stating that true leadership must begin with truth. He reaffirmed his belief that a new and better Nigeria is possible.
