Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the academic certificates and credentials submitted by candidates seeking elective offices.
Obi made the call in a post on X on Tuesday after completing his INEC nomination form.
Wants candidates’ certificates published
Obi said making candidates’ academic credentials public would strengthen transparency and improve public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
He noted that the proposal was inspired by a question on the INEC nomination form asking whether a candidate had ever presented a forged certificate to the commission.
“This raises another important question,” he said.
“Why shouldn’t INEC, in the interest of ensuring that our leaders are exemplary in following the rules and to strengthen public confidence in our electoral process, publish the academic certificates and credentials submitted by every candidate seeking elective office?”
“Transparency strengthens democracy and builds public trust.”
Says leaders should focus on insecurity, hunger
Furthermore, Obi questioned why political activities dominate national discourse while insecurity and economic hardship persist.
He said addressing the country’s pressing challenges should take priority over partisan politics.
“When Nigerians, including children and security personnel, are being abducted into the bushes, citizens cannot travel safely on our highways, several million Nigerians are uncertain where their next meal will come from, and several billions are being siphoned frivolously through non-existent agencies and projects, should politics really be our primary preoccupation?” he said.
‘Sound-minded leaders should declare emergency’
Meanwhile, Obi said a responsible leadership would treat insecurity and poverty as national emergencies.
“A sound-minded leadership would have declared these existential challenges a national emergency and immediately mobilised all relevant institutions, security agencies, experts, community leaders, and other critical stakeholders to confront them with urgency and resolve,” he said.
“This is a time for decisive action, not political calculation or the pursuit of partisan advantage.”
