Obi Urges Leaders to Focus on Nigeria’s Crises, Calls for Greater Transparency in Candidate Screening
The Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has challenged Nigeria’s political leaders to prioritise the country’s pressing security and economic challenges over political competition, while also calling for greater transparency in the electoral process.
Obi made the remarks after completing his Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination form in Abuja on Monday.
In a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday, the former Anambra State governor said certain questions on the nomination form prompted him to reflect on the quality of leadership in the country.
According to him, a question asking whether a candidate had ever been adjudged a lunatic or declared to be of unsound mind raised a deeper concern about the state of governance in Nigeria.
He questioned whether the nation’s political leaders could genuinely claim to be demonstrating sound judgment at a time when insecurity, hunger and corruption continue to affect millions of Nigerians.
Obi lamented the persistent abduction of citizens, unsafe highways and widespread economic hardship, arguing that the country’s challenges should take precedence over political calculations.
He said a leadership acting with sound judgment would have convened an emergency meeting involving political leaders across party lines and other critical stakeholders to address what he described as the nation’s existential challenges, rather than focusing on political advantage.
The former governor also drew attention to another section of the INEC form asking whether a candidate had ever submitted a forged certificate to the electoral body.
He argued that, in the interest of transparency and public confidence, INEC should make public the academic certificates and credentials submitted by all candidates seeking elective office.
According to Obi, such openness would strengthen democracy by ensuring that those seeking public office are held to the highest standards of integrity and accountability.
He maintained that Nigeria’s challenges require leadership driven by competence, character, capacity, compassion and commitment to public service, insisting that “a new Nigeria is possible.”
