Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has authorised the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and other academic institutions he attended to make his academic certificates and records available to anyone who legitimately requests them.
Obi gave the authorisation in a statement made available to newsmen in Awka on Tuesday by his media aide, Valentine Obienyem.
The development comes amid recent legal scrutiny of the academic credentials of the former Anambra State governor.
The scrutiny follows a suit filed by a Labour Party chieftain, Abayomi Arabambi, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling UNN to release Obi’s academic records.
Arabambi is asking the court to compel the university to provide certified true copies of records relating to a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy allegedly awarded to Obi in 1984.
Obi, however, said he had no concerns about public scrutiny of his academic records.
He argued that Nigeria’s democratic process would be strengthened if all public office seekers were willing to make their claimed educational qualifications available for public verification.
According to him, there is no objection to the request, as scrutiny of the academic credentials of public office seekers is a legitimate aspect of democracy.
He said he had no objection to UNN making his academic certificates, records and other official documents available upon legitimate requests and within the limits permitted by law.
The NDC presidential candidate also authorised other educational institutions he attended within and outside Nigeria to release his academic records in accordance with applicable laws and procedures.
Obi stressed that transparency and accountability were particularly important for individuals seeking public office, adding that public scrutiny should be fair, lawful and applied consistently to all presidential candidates.
“As a presidential candidate seeking the trust of Nigerians to lead our country, I welcome legitimate public interest in my background, qualifications and record,” he said.
Obi stated that anyone seeking the highest office in the country should be prepared to undergo reasonable scrutiny and demonstrate, through words and actions, that they had nothing to conceal from the people they sought to serve.
He also challenged other presidential candidates to make their educational qualifications and relevant records available for legitimate public scrutiny.
According to him, such disclosure should be viewed as an opportunity to strengthen public confidence, promote accountability and rebuild trust in political leadership.
The former governor maintained that leadership must reflect the values Nigerians expect in the society they seek to build, including transparency, integrity, accountability and respect for institutions.
“I therefore welcome the scrutiny of my academic background and remain committed to the principle that those who ask Nigerians for their trust must also be willing to earn that trust through openness and accountability,” he said.