Obi Challenges Political Leaders, INEC: Put Nigeria Before Politics, Publish Candidates’ Credentials
By Chimezie Godfrey
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has questioned the priorities of Nigeria’s political leaders, saying the country’s worsening security and economic challenges should take precedence over political calculations.
Obi made the remarks after completing his Independent National Electoral Commission nomination form in Abuja on Monday.
In a post on his X handle on Tuesday, the former Anambra State governor said questions contained in the nomination form prompted him to reflect on the state of leadership in the country.
According to him, “What truly should be our priority now as leaders of a Nation? This question has become necessary given where we are today as a nation and where we are supposed to be.”
Obi explained that one of the questions on the form asked whether an applicant had ever been adjudged a lunatic or declared a person of unsound mind.
He said, “While completing my INEC nomination form yesterday, Section E, Question 1 caught my attention. It asks: ‘Have you ever been adjudged a lunatic or been declared a person of unsound mind?’ The answer is either Yes or No. That question got me thinking: Can we, as the political leaders of today’s Nigeria, truly say we are exhibiting characteristics of a sound mind?”
He added, “When our children are being abducted into the bushes, when citizens cannot travel safely on our highways, and when several million Nigerians are uncertain where their next meal will come from; when several billions are being siphoned frivolously through non-existent agencies and projects. In such adverse circumstances as we are, should politics really be our primary preoccupation?”
Obi argued that responsible leadership would place national survival above partisan interests.
He stated, “A leadership exercising a sound mind would have convened an emergency meeting of political leaders across various parties and other critical stakeholders to confront these existential challenges facing our nation today. The survival of Nigeria should have been prioritised over the pursuit of political advantage.”
The former governor also called for greater transparency in the electoral process, referring to another question in the nomination form regarding the submission of forged certificates.
According to him, “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 for public confidence in our process, publish the academic certificates and credentials submitted by every candidate seeking elective office? Transparency strengthens democracy and builds public trust.”
Obi maintained that Nigeria’s challenges require a different style of leadership.
He said, “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. A new Nigeria is possible.”
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