Posted by Samuel on Mon 16th Mar, 2026 - tori.ng
The presidential aspirant urged Nigerians to demand accountability and proper vetting of candidates, saying the future of peaceful elections depends on leaders who are qualified and credible.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has warned that violence could erupt in Nigeria if political leaders continue to use forged certificates to contest elections.
Speaking on Sunday, Mr Obi said, “allowing politicians with fake qualifications to run for office sends the wrong message to Nigerians and weakens trust in leadership”.
“If we keep accepting forged certificates in our elections, violence may become the future of our democracy,” he said, clarifying that credibility and integrity must matter for anyone seeking public office.
The former governor of Anambra State made the remarks following the attack on the African Democratic Congress, ADC, secretariat in Bakassi, Cross River State, where suspected political thugs destroyed property and disrupted an event.
Obi described the attack as “an assault on democracy itself.”
He warned that acts, from certificate forgery to violent attacks, reflect the decline of democratic standards in the country and, if unchecked, could escalate tensions ahead of the 2027 elections.
The presidential aspirant urged Nigerians to demand accountability and proper vetting of candidates, saying the future of peaceful elections depends on leaders who are qualified and credible.