13/03/2026
“Why Punish Party Membership but Ignore Certificate Forgery?” — Peter Obi Questions Lawmakers
Peter Obi has raised serious concerns over recent legislative proposals affecting Nigeria’s electoral process, questioning the priorities of lawmakers and warning that the country’s democratic standards could be weakened.
The former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election reacted to reports that the House of Representatives has proposed imposing a ₦10 million fine and up to two years’ imprisonment for individuals found to be registered in more than one political party.
While acknowledging the need to regulate political party membership, Obi expressed concern that the same legislative move reportedly removes certificate forgery, age falsification, and false declarations as grounds for challenging election outcomes at tribunals.
According to him, such a development contradicts the spirit of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) and raises troubling questions about the values guiding Nigeria’s political system.
Obi argued that in any serious democracy, deceiving the electorate to gain power is among the gravest offenses in public life. Acts such as submitting forged certificates, falsifying one’s age, or making dishonest declarations to electoral authorities, he said, should lead to automatic disqualification and possible criminal prosecution.
He warned that focusing more on punishing party alignment while appearing to overlook fraudulent credentials sends the wrong signal about the standards expected from those seeking public office.
“A nation cannot rise above the integrity of its leaders,” Obi stated, stressing that laws should strengthen democracy by promoting truth, character, competence, and accountability among those aspiring to lead.
The remarks have sparked debate among political observers and citizens about the direction of Nigeria’s electoral reforms and whether the proposed changes will strengthen or weaken democratic accountability.
Obi concluded his statement with his familiar message of optimism, saying that despite the challenges, “A New Nigeria is Possible.”