Former presidential candidate and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Peter Obi, has taken Nigeria’s federal lawmakers to task for removing certificate forgery, age falsification, and false declarations as grounds for challenging an election in a tribunal.
The former Governor of Anambra State in a social media post wondered why the same lawmakers that removed these provisions that are against the constitution of the country and that are even course for criminal prosecution should propose a fine of N10 million and up to two years in prison for dual political party membership.
In the post, titled “Nigeria is facing a troubling contradiction,” Mr. Obi asked: “What type of country are we trying to bequeath for our children?,” insisting that the “situation raises a fundamental question about the priorities of our political system.”
According to Obi: “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. Such actions not only lead to automatic disqualification but also warrant criminal prosecution.
“Yet today, our electoral system seems more focused on protecting political structures than on upholding the truth.
“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.
“Laws should strengthen democracy, not weaken it. They should promote ethical leadership rather than lower standards for those who aspire to govern.
“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.”
