THE presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant agencies to begin immediate verification and authentication of the academic and professional certificates of all political candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the call in a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday sighted by News Point Nigeria, stressing that the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy rests on truth, transparency, and integrity in the leadership selection process.
The former Anambra State governor said it was unacceptable that Nigeria’s electoral system continues to be tainted by certificate scandals, forgery allegations, and false declarations that cast doubts on the moral foundation of the country’s political class.
“It is appalling that our electoral body carries out little or no due diligence in confirming certificates submitted by candidates. Continuous discrepancies, false declarations, and forged credentials undermine the credibility of our democracy,” Obi wrote.
Obi also commended the resignation of the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, amid the controversy surrounding alleged discrepancies in his academic records.
Describing Nnaji’s resignation as a “decent and honourable step,” the Labour Party flag bearer said the decision reflected a sense of moral responsibility and should serve as an example to other public officials facing integrity questions.
He also drew parallels with the 2018 resignation of former Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, who stepped down over issues relating to her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
“These instances remind us that such matters are not trivial; they constitute serious criminal offences,” Obi said, adding that public officers must be held to the highest standards of integrity and honesty.
The former governor urged INEC to begin the vetting process early, giving it ample time to cross-check all certificates and detect inconsistencies well before the 2027 polls.
He called for comprehensive verification, extending from presidential and governorship candidates to local government councillors, insisting that the process should be open, transparent, and accessible to the public.
“INEC has enough time to investigate past complaints about various forms of forgery and false claims. Every incumbent and aspiring candidate must submit all academic certificates immediately for verification and public accessibility, clearly detailing schools attended from primary to university level,” he said.
Obi maintained that any nation that hopes to build strong democratic institutions must anchor leadership on honesty, not deceit or manipulation.
“Let truth, transparency, and accountability form the foundation of leadership in our dear country. Only then can we build a Nigeria where public service is anchored on honour, not deceit. We must get it right,” he declared.