The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called on relevant government agencies to commence immediate verification and authentication of the academic and professional certificates of all political candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Obi made the call in a post on his official X handle on Thursday while reacting to the certificate forgery scandal involving the recently resigned Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji.

He lamented that Nigeria has continued to tolerate dishonesty and criminality at the highest levels of leadership, stressing that such actions erode public trust and weaken democratic institutions.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must show diligence in verifying certificates submitted by candidates. The recurrence of false claims and forged documents continues to undermine the credibility of our elections,” Obi said.

The former Anambra State governor commended Nnaji for resigning, describing it as an honourable step, and recalled a similar incident during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, when then Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, resigned over an NYSC certificate controversy.

“These matters are not trivial; they are serious criminal offences,” he stated.

Obi further called for a comprehensive national review of qualification and background verification for all public office holders, citing Ghana as an example of a country that ensures strict cross-checking of candidates’ educational claims before elections.

He urged INEC to use the period before the 2027 polls to investigate all pending forgery and false declaration complaints and to make candidates’ educational records publicly accessible.

“Let truth, transparency, and accountability form the foundation of leadership in our country. Only then can we build a Nigeria where public service is anchored on honour, not deceit. We must get it right,” Obi concluded.