Peter Obi Urges INEC to Verify Certificates of Tinubu, Governors Ahead of 2027 Elections

Prior to the general elections in 2027, Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other pertinent organizations to confirm and authenticate the professional and academic credentials of all political contenders.

Obi claimed that honesty and openness in the selection of leaders are essential to the legitimacy of Nigeria’s democracy in a statement titled “Certificate Integrity and the Future of Nigerian Leadership,” which was published on X on Thursday.

He called Uche Nnaji’s resignation as Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology “a decent and honorable step” in the wake of scandals involving inconsistencies in his academic records.

Additionally, he reminded that during the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun resigned under like circumstances.

“These incidents serve as a reminder that these issues are not insignificant; they are grave criminal offenses,” Obi stated.

To maintain integrity in the 2027 elections, he advised INEC to start verifying credentials presented by all candidates right away, from the president to council members of local governments.

“It is disgusting that our electoral body does not do enough research to verify the certifications that candidates have submitted. The integrity of our democracy is weakened by persistent inconsistencies, fraudulent statements, and falsified credentials,” he said.

In order for public service to be based on honor rather than dishonesty, the former governor of Anambra State emphasized that truth, transparency, and accountability must be the cornerstones of Nigeria’s leadership.

Citing Ghana as an example of a nation that carefully verifies candidates’ educational claims prior to elections, Obi also called for a complete national review of the qualification and background verification procedure for all public office holders.

“INEC has ample time to look into previous complaints regarding different types of forgeries and fraudulent statements. All academic credentials must be submitted right away by all incumbents and prospective candidates for public access and verification, he continued.