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By Myke Agunwa, Abuja
The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant institutions to take firm measures against certificate forgery, stressing that the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy depends on it.
In a statement released on Monday via his X handle titled “The danger of making crime a norm,” he lamented that many officeholders who emerged from the 2023 elections did so with forged certificates and fraudulent affidavits, yet scaled through scrutiny by INEC, security agencies, and even the Senate.
He emphasized that the credibility of the process through which leaders emerge is more critical than their subsequent performance in office.
“The process by which one gets to office is far more fundamental than what they do thereafter,” Obi noted, insisting that INEC must improve its oversight functions to prevent “criminals and dishonest individuals” from gaining access to public office.
Highlighting the seriousness of certificate forgery, he recalled his interactions earlier this year with top officials in Indonesia, including the Chairman of the General Elections Commission. According to him, the Indonesian official was shocked at the suggestion that a candidate with forged documents could contest an election.
“He said that attracts immediate disqualification and prosecution. It is a criminal offence. If someone can forge a certificate, how can that person be trusted to lead others?” Obi quoted.
The leader of the ‘Obident’ movement expressed dismay that, despite Nigeria having similar laws, INEC and the courts have repeatedly failed to tackle certificate forgery with the seriousness it deserves. He criticized the practice of dismissing such cases as “pre-election matters,” thereby allowing offenders to escape accountability.
“In my country Nigeria, INEC makes no effort to scrutinize certificates before elections, overlooks complaints of forgery, and even after elections does not revisit these offences. This culture of impunity must end,” he said.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, he called for comprehensive reforms that would compel all candidates to submit their academic certificates immediately after party primaries, at least six months before the polls. He proposed that these documents, including details of schools, courses, and years of study, be made public for verification within 90 days.
He further recommended that the requirement should apply not only to elected officials but also to appointees, including ministers and aides.
“When dishonesty starts from the top, it spreads to every level of governance, just like it’s happening now,” Obi warned.
The former Anambra State Governor urged Nigerians to demand accountability and reject a political culture that rewards deceit.
“We must deal with certificate forgery holistically with the seriousness and level of criminality it deserves. Criminal offences should not be dismissed as a mere procedural matter. We must end the era where forgery and deceit are rewarded with power. True leadership must begin with truth. A New Nigeria is POssible,” he declared.