By Adesina Soyooye

The Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said he would withdraw from the 2027 Presidential Race if it is ever found out that any of the educational certificates he has is forged.

Obi said this while he was defending his educational credentials during an interview with Arise TV. Describing all the certificates he presented as legitimate, Obi flaunted , among other institutions he attended for professional training Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Columbia, Kellogg and IMD.

Obi’s stand comes on the heels of a suit instituted against his alma mata,  the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, by a Labour Party chieftain, Abayomi Arabambi.

According to him, he instituted the case against UNN at the Federal High Court Abuja over alleged refusal by the University  to release Obi’s academic records.

In the suit filed by his lawyer, Anderson Asemota, on September 9, Arabambi wants the Court to compel UNN to acede to his request for the documents.

He had, in July 2026, requested from UNN, a certified true copy of certificate number D000198 in the name of Gregory Peter Onwubuasi Obi, for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy awarded in 1984. He based his demand in the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, and noted the public interest and accountability basis for seeking the records.

Arabambi’s request was received by on August 6 by the University but there was no  response to him within the timeframe set by the act. UNN did not also write to him to explain why it refused him access to the documents.

Pushed by  the University’s silence, Arabambi on August 31, sent a reminder where he reminded it of his demand for the certificate and related academic records. On September 1, UNN  acknowledged delivery. But as at the

time he filed his suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026, there was still no response from the UNN. In the suit, the  Vice Chancellor and the University were named  as first and second respondents.

In the affidavit, deposed to by a litigation secretary at Neplus Ultra Attorneys, Chuku Maudlyn,  Arabambi narrated the efforts he made to get the documents. He pointed out that his request complied with the  Freedom of Information Act requirements.

A former factional spokesperson for the Labour Party, Arabambi  seeks a declaration that his written request is a valid information demand under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

He wants the court to issue an order of mandamus order by the court which translates to  forcing the university to release the certificate in  its possession.

He filed  a total of 19 reliefs seeking orders from the court to force compliance with the Freedom of Information Act.

But Obi has publicly challenged anyone who questions his credentials to identify any certificate they believe is fake or forged and emphasised he would withdraw from the Presidential race if that were so.

“In terms of training, I have attended the best schools worldwide, from Oxford to Cambridge to Harvard to Columbia to Kellogg to IMD. All the certificates I have provided are legitimate. If you find one that is incorrect, I will step down from the race.”

The Peter Obi Media Office says its attention has been drawn to what it described as “the laughable argument of the surrogate campaigners of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC Presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, is overhyped, and that his popularity and high rating are overrated.”

To counter that it has, below, presented a direct response, ten points to back up all the ratings Peter Obi is currently enjoying in the nation’s political space. It flaunts the record as what  prepared him for the Presidency. Accompanying them is what it called “ten failures of Tinubu’s presidency that Nigerians cannot ignore.”

1. _Peter Obi managed a state before seeking to manage a nation._

He served as Governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, with interruptions arising from the political and legal battles surrounding his tenure. He eventually won re-election in 2010, completed his second term, and emerged as the best-performing state governor in his time.

2. He demonstrated fiscal discipline.

As a public servant, one of the strongest claims in his governance record is that Anambra became one of the least-indebted states while he was governor, and his administration accumulated substantial savings and investments. His 2023 manifesto records approximately $500 million in investments and savings, including $156 million in dollar-denominated bonds.

3. He showed that government could save rather than merely spend.

This is perhaps one of the clearest contrasts in his political message: leaving substantial financial reserves behind after leaving office. The record presented in his manifesto includes local and foreign currency savings and investments.

4. He made education a central development investment.

His administration returned mission schools to their original owners and established partnerships with them. His manifesto says Anambra subsequently moved from 24th to first position in WAEC/NECO performance for three consecutive years.

5. He invested in human capital rather than only physical projects.

The record includes scholarships, support for education, healthcare investments and poverty mapping—an approach consistent with the argument that development is ultimately about improving people’s productive capacity.

6. He demonstrated healthcare investment.

His administration’s reported record includes investment in health institutions and accreditation; the 2023 manifesto states that more than 12 health institutions, including two hospitals, had secured accreditation by the end of his tenure, compared with none at the beginning.

7. He attracted international development partnerships.

The record includes engagement with organisations such as the World Bank, UNDP, DFID and the European Union, alongside diplomatic engagement with foreign governments. His manifesto also says he was recognised by the Millennium Development Goals Office and UNDP for the implementation of development programmes.

8. He used data and planning in governance.

His administration introduced poverty mapping and aerial mapping/planning initiatives, and developed the Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS) as a framework for coordinated development.

9. He demonstrated experience outside politics.

Before becoming governor, Obi had a career in business and banking, including senior roles in the financial sector. That gives his presidential case a combination of private-sector, financial-management and public-sector experience.

10. He left office with a record that could be examined.

That may ultimately be the strongest argument: Nigerians do not have to assess Peter Obi solely from campaign promises. They can examine what he did with Anambra’s resources when he had executive responsibility.

Perhaps the  bigger argument and the strongest political formulation is therefore that

Peter Obi is not asking Nigerians to make him President so that he can learn how government works. He is asking Nigerians to entrust him with Nigeria after demonstrating, as Governor of Anambra, how he manages money, builds institutions, invests in human capital and plans for the future.

 Tinubu Presidency: Ten Failures Nigerians Cannot Ignore”

1. Cost-of-living crisis — The removal of the petrol subsidy and other economic reforms have been accompanied by a severe rise in the cost of food, transportation and necessities.

2. Inflation and declining purchasing power — Nigerians have seen their incomes buy substantially less, while wages have struggled to keep pace with prices.

3. Naira instability — The sharp depreciation of the naira has increased the cost of imported goods, medicines, machinery and industrial inputs.

4. Fuel-price shock — Petrol prices rose dramatically following subsidy reforms, placing additional pressure on households, businesses and transportation costs.

5. Rising poverty and hardship — The central criticism is that the immediate burden of economic reforms has fallen disproportionately on ordinary Nigerians.

6. Weak employment and economic opportunities — Despite repeated government assurances, many young Nigerians continue to face unemployment, underemployment and limited opportunities for productive work.

7. Security challenges remain unresolved — Banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and communal violence continue to affect parts of the country, raising questions about the effectiveness of the government’s security strategy.

8. Public trust and transparency concerns — Controversies surrounding government spending, appointments, procurement and the management of public resources have continued to generate questions about transparency and accountability.

9. Perception of political rather than institutional governance — Critics argue that the administration has sometimes appeared more focused on political consolidation and 2027 calculations than on building strong, independent institutions.

10. The gap between promises and lived experience — Perhaps the broadest criticism is that the administration’s reform narrative has not yet translated into a sufficiently visible improvement in the daily lives of ordinary Nigerians because of apparent corruption allegations all over the place.

The fundamental question is not whether Tinubu inherited a difficult Nigeria. He did. The question is whether, after taking difficult decisions, Nigerians are better off today—and whether the government has convincingly demonstrated that today’s sacrifice is producing tomorrow’s prosperity. Your answer is an obvious capital NO.