Peter Obi slams lawmakers for criminalising dual party membership while overlooking forgery and false declarations

Africa, Politics

ABUJA, NIGERIA — (NPA) MARCH 14 — Mr Peter Obi, opposition party leader and presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has condemned the Nigerian parliament for criminalising dual political party membership while simultaneously removing certificate forgery, age falsification, and false declarations as grounds for challenging elections in a tribunal. He warned that Nigeria cannot rise above the integrity of its leaders, stressing that laws must defend truth, character, competence, and accountability, and be intolerant of criminal behaviour.

Obi described the move as a direct contradiction of the Constitution and a troubling reflection of misplaced priorities in the political system. 

In a statement on Friday, he noted: “In any serious democracy, the gravest offence in public life is deceiving the people to gain power. Submitting false documents, falsifying one’s age, forging certificates, and making dishonest declarations to electoral authorities are among the most serious offences. Such actions not only lead to automatic disqualification but also warrant criminal prosecution.”

He lamented that “today, our electoral system seems more focused on protecting political structures than on upholding the truth.” 

Obi argued that there is no justification for prioritising punishment for party alignment over punishing forgery and deception in the pursuit of public office. 

He called for laws that strengthen democracy rather than weaken it, and those that promote ethical leadership instead of lowering standards for those who aspire to govern.