Former presidential candidate of the Peter Obi has criticised Nigerian lawmakers over a proposed electoral amendment that reportedly removes certificate forgery, age falsification and false declarations as grounds for challenging election results at tribunals.
Reacting in a post on his verified account on the social media platform X, Obi described the development as a troubling contradiction that raises questions about the priorities of Nigeria’s political system.
“Nigeria is facing a troubling contradiction,” he wrote.
“What type of country are we trying to bequeath for our children?”
The former governor of Anambra State noted that the same lawmakers proposing strict penalties for politicians holding membership in more than one political party had also removed serious offences such as certificate forgery from the list of grounds that can be used to challenge election outcomes.
According to him, the proposal recommends a fine of ₦10 million and up to two years’ imprisonment for dual political party membership, while at the same time eliminating certificate forgery, age falsification and false declarations as valid reasons for filing election petitions.
“The same lawmakers who have proposed a fine of ₦10 million and up to two years in prison for dual political party membership have simultaneously removed certificate forgery, age falsification, and false declarations as grounds for challenging an election in a tribunal,” Obi stated.
He argued that such a move contradicts the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) and weakens democratic accountability.
“This situation raises a fundamental question about the priorities of our political system,” he said.
Obi further stressed that in any credible democracy, misleading the electorate in order to gain power is among the gravest offences a public official can commit.
“In any serious democracy, the gravest offense in public life is deceiving the people to gain power. Submitting false documents, falsifying one’s age, forging certificates, and making dishonest declarations to electoral authorities are among the most serious offenses in any democracy,” he wrote.
He added that such acts should ordinarily lead to automatic disqualification from office and possible criminal prosecution.
“Yet today, our electoral system seems more focused on protecting political structures than on upholding the truth,” Obi said.
He also questioned the rationale behind prioritising punishment for political party alignment over sanctions for forgery and other forms of electoral deception.
“There is no justification for prioritizing punishment for party alignment over punishing false certificates, forgery, and other forms of deception in the pursuit of public office,” he wrote.
Obi maintained that laws should strengthen democratic values rather than lower the ethical standards expected of those seeking public office.
“Laws should strengthen democracy, not weaken it. They should promote ethical leadership rather than lower standards for those who aspire to govern.”
He concluded by urging political leaders to prioritise integrity and accountability in governance.
“A nation cannot rise above the integrity of its leaders. If we truly want a better Nigeria, our laws must defend truth, character, competence, and accountability. We cannot continue to tolerate criminal behavior.