Publish Candidates’ Academic Credentials – Peter Obi Challenges INEC

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to publish the academic credentials submitted by all candidates seeking elective office in Nigeria.

Obi said making the certificates publicly available would promote transparency, strengthen public confidence in the electoral process, and ensure greater accountability among political office seekers.

In a statement, the former Anambra State Governor reflected on the nomination forms completed by candidates, drawing attention to a section that asks whether an aspirant has ever presented a forged certificate to INEC.

He argued that if candidates are required to answer such a question, there is no reason why the academic certificates and other credentials they submit should not be made available for public scrutiny.

“What Truly Should Be Our Priority Now as Leaders of a Nation?

Further in the same Section E, Question 6, was: “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?”.

According to Obi, transparency remains a key pillar of democracy and is necessary to rebuild public trust in the nation’s electoral system.

“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”.

He added that Nigeria’s challenges demand leadership anchored on competence, character, capacity, compassion, and commitment to service, rather than politics as usual.