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 office.
Obi made the call while discussing questions in the INEC nomination form, especially those on mental fitness and certificate authenticity.
He said making the documents public would improve transparency in the electoral process and ensure candidates are held to higher standards of accountability and integrity.
“Have you ever presented a forged certificate to INEC?” Again, the answer is either Yes or No. This raises another important question: 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. Nigeria’s problems are too serious for politics as usual. It is time for leadership defined by competence, character, capacity, compassion, and commitment to service.”
Obi also pointed to Section E, Question 1 of the nomination form, which asks whether a candidate has ever been judged a lunatic or declared a person of unsound mind, with only “Yes” or “No” as the available answers.
He said the question raises concerns about whether today’s political leaders are showing the qualities of sound-minded leadership.
According to Obi, the current situation in the country, including kidnappings, unsafe highways, widespread hunger, and the alleged diversion of public funds through questionable agencies and projects, suggests political leaders may be losing focus on urgent national priorities.
He said responsible and sound-minded leadership would treat Nigeria’s security and economic challenges as a national emergency by bringing together relevant institutions, security agencies, experts, and community leaders to tackle them quickly.
Obi added that Nigeria’s survival, security, and stability should come before political maneuvering and partisan interests, saying the country needs decisive governance led by competence, character, capacity, compassion, and commitment to public service.
Earlier, Seriake Dickson, National Leader of the NDC, confirmed that Obi’s name had been uploaded to the INEC portal.
The development comes amid a court ruling that voided the registration process of the opposition party.
