The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take urgent steps in verifying the academic certificates and credentials of all political candidates before any election is conducted in the country.
Obi made the call while addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, stressing that certificate forgery and falsification among political office seekers have continued to undermine Nigeria’s democracy and erode public trust in the electoral process.
According to him, the rising cases of fake certificates presented by some politicians call for immediate reform in the nation’s election procedures to ensure that only qualified and credible individuals are cleared to contest.
INEC must go beyond accepting documents submitted by candidates. It should establish a thorough and transparent verification process in collaboration with relevant institutions,” Obi stated.
He urged the electoral umpire to partner with examination and regulatory bodies such as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Universities Commission (NUC), and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to authenticate certificates before approving candidates’ nominations.
Verifying certificates before elections will save the nation from the embarrassment of post-election litigations and leadership crises. It’s better to prevent such problems than to deal with them after the polls.”
Obi emphasized that the credibility of elections begins with the integrity of the candidates, noting that citizens deserve leaders whose qualifications and personal records are beyond question.
He also called on political parties to strengthen their internal screening systems, ensuring that aspirants meet constitutional and ethical requirements before being presented to the electorate.
Political parties should not wait for INEC or the courts to expose their candidates. They owe Nigerians the duty to present only honest and competent individuals.”
The former Anambra State governor maintained that a credible verification exercise by INEC would reinforce confidence in the electoral system and enhance the quality of leadership at all levels of government.
Our democracy will only thrive when we promote truth, accountability, and integrity. INEC must take this responsibility seriously ahead of future elections.”
