Forgery: Punish Dishonest Politicians, Peter Obi Tells INEC

The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for stern punishment against politicians who forge academic certificates, saying Nigeria must stop rewarding deceit and criminality with public office.

In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, the former Anambra State governor said true leadership must begin with truth, urging electoral and judicial authorities to treat certificate forgery as a serious criminal offence.

Obi lamented that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) makes little or no effort to verify the authenticity of certificates submitted by political candidates before elections.

“How do you tell young Nigerians to be honest and upright when those they are supposed to emulate are the least to be emulated because they are criminals and dishonest?” Obi wrote.

He described certificate forgery as “one of the most corrupt practices heavily punished in all countries of the world,” warning that Nigeria’s democracy was being undermined by the failure to hold dishonest politicians accountable.

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“Certificate forgery is a serious criminal offence in all countries of the world. It is one of the most corrupt practices heavily punished,” he said.

With preparations underway for the 2027 general elections, Obi challenged INEC to use the next few years to investigate past allegations of document forgery and tighten its screening process for candidates.

He said the country’s Electoral Act should be amended to make the submission and verification of academic certificates mandatory long before the polls.

“We are now preparing for the 2027 general elections. INEC has enough time to investigate past complaints about various forms of forgery and false claims,” he wrote.

“Our electoral amendments must include that anyone intending to contest for any public office, whether an incumbent or a new candidate, must submit all academic certificates to the electoral body immediately after party primaries, at least six months before the election.”

The Labour Party leader maintained that allowing individuals with questionable credentials to contest elections undermines the country’s moral fabric and sends the wrong message to the younger generation.

“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,” Obi said.

“We must end the era where forgery and deceit are rewarded with power. True leadership must begin with truth.”

Peter Obi, known for his consistent advocacy for integrity and accountability in governance, has repeatedly criticised what he calls the “moral collapse” in Nigeria’s political culture.

His latest comment comes amid public debates over the integrity of some politicians’ academic records, as several lawsuits on certificate discrepancies have dominated Nigeria’s political space since the 2023 elections.