Peter Obi Calls for Strict Sanctions Against Politicians with Forged Academic Certificates

The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has demanded strict punishment for politicians found guilty of forging academic certificates.

In a post on his verified X account on Monday, Obi emphasized the urgent need to end the culture where forgery and deceit are rewarded with political power, stressing that true leadership must begin with truth.

He criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for making little to no effort to verify certificates 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 questioned.

Highlighting that certificate forgery is a serious criminal offence worldwide, Obi called for electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections. He urged INEC to thoroughly investigate past allegations of forgery and false claims.

Obi proposed that all candidates—whether incumbents or new aspirants—should be required to submit their academic certificates to INEC immediately after party primaries, at least six months before the election.

He insisted that certificate forgery must be treated with the full weight of the law and condemned the practice of dismissing such criminal offenses as mere procedural issues.

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