The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for stiffer punishment for individuals involved in certificate forgery, describing it as a serious act of corruption that undermines the nation’s values.
Obi made the statement in a post on his verified X handle on Monday, stressing that “true leadership must begin with truth.”
He lamented that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) often fails to thoroughly scrutinize candidates’ academic documents before elections, adding that this negligence emboldens dishonesty in public life.
“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?” he wrote.
The former Anambra State governor urged that electoral reforms should compel all candidates—incumbents and new aspirants alike—to submit their academic certificates to INEC at least six months before the election for verification.
“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. We must end the era where forgery and deceit are rewarded with power,” he added.
Obi emphasized that addressing the issue decisively would help restore integrity in Nigeria’s political system and inspire honesty among young citizens.