The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has challenged Nigeria’s political leaders to place the country’s pressing security and economic challenges above partisan politics after completing his nomination inquiry form at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, Obi completed the INEC inquiry form in Abuja on Monday, where his name remains on the commission’s server, but said some of the questions on the form prompted him to reflect on the state of the nation.
In a post on his X account, the former Anambra State governor asked, “What truly should be our priority now as leaders of a nation?” stressing that the question had become necessary in view of Nigeria’s current challenges.
Obi said one of the questions in Section E of the form, which asks whether an applicant had ever been adjudged a lunatic or declared to be of unsound mind, made him question whether Nigeria’s political leadership was demonstrating sound judgment.
He lamented the country’s worsening insecurity, noting that children were still being abducted, citizens could not travel safely on highways, millions of Nigerians were struggling to feed themselves, and public funds were allegedly being diverted through questionable projects and agencies.
According to him, under such circumstances, politics should not be the nation’s foremost concern. He argued that responsible leadership would instead convene an emergency meeting involving leaders of all political parties and key stakeholders to address what he described as the country’s existential challenges.
Obi also drew attention to another question on the INEC form asking whether a candidate had ever presented a forged certificate to the commission. He called on INEC to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process by publishing the academic certificates and credentials submitted by all candidates seeking elective office.
He maintained that greater transparency would reinforce democracy and ensure that public office holders are held to high ethical standards.
The former governor concluded that Nigeria’s challenges require leadership anchored on competence, character, capacity, compassion and commitment to public service, reiterating his belief that “a new Nigeria is possible.”
