Obi Urges INEC To Verify Candidates’ Certificates Before 2027 Elections

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other agencies to thoroughly verify all academic certificates submitted by candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said this step is necessary to prevent individuals with forged documents from occupying public offices.

In a post shared on his verified X handle on Monday, Obi accused several public officials of gaining power with fake certificates and fraudulent affidavits. He said such acts have weakened public trust and further damaged the nation’s reputation. According to him, many of these individuals “scaled through” screening processes by INEC, security agencies, and even the National Assembly during the 2023 elections despite presenting forged documents.

Obi described certificate forgery as a serious crime that must be punished by immediate disqualification and prosecution, as done in other countries. He recalled his visit to Indonesia, where he met the country’s electoral commission chairman and was told that anyone caught with a forged certificate would face instant disqualification and legal action. He said such firmness reflects a system that values integrity in public service.

The former Anambra State governor criticised Nigeria’s current system, which he said allows people with forged credentials to contest and even win elections. He lamented that INEC often fails to verify certificates before polls and ignores complaints of forgery. He added that courts dismiss such issues as pre-election matters, allowing offenders to go unpunished.

Obi urged INEC to begin investigating past cases of forgery and false claims before the 2027 elections. He proposed that candidates should submit their certificates immediately after party primaries and that these documents be made public for verification within 90 days.

He also recommended that the same process apply to appointed officials, including ministers and aides, to promote honesty and accountability in governance. Obi said dishonesty at the top encourages corruption throughout the system, stressing that true leadership must start with truth and transparency.

He concluded that Nigeria must treat certificate forgery as a criminal act, not a procedural issue, and must end the era where deceit is rewarded with power.