Peter Obi Demands Punishment for Politicians with Forged Certificates

Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has called for severe sanctions against politicians who present forged academic certificates.

In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Monday, Obi said Nigeria must end what he described as an era where “forgery and deceit are rewarded with power.” He argued that genuine leadership must be anchored on truth and integrity.

The former Anambra governor accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of making little effort to properly verify certificates submitted by candidates before elections. He warned that such lapses undermine the values of honesty expected from public office holders.

“How do you tell young Nigerians to be honest when those they should look up to are dishonest?” Obi queried, describing certificate forgery as a serious criminal offence punished heavily in other parts of the world.

Looking ahead to the 2027 polls, he urged INEC to use the available time to investigate past complaints of forgery and false claims. He further proposed that electoral laws be amended to require all aspirants—whether incumbents or new contenders—to submit their academic certificates to the electoral body immediately after party primaries, at least six months before elections.

“We must deal with certificate forgery holistically with the seriousness it deserves. Criminal offences should not be dismissed as a mere procedural matter,” Obi said. “True leadership must begin with truth.”