Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has questioned whether Nigeria’s political class is exercising sound judgment, arguing that mounting insecurity and hunger across the country should take precedence over partisan politics.
In a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, Obi explained that completing his INEC Nomination Form prompted his reflection, after a section of the form asked whether he had even been declared of unsound mind.
The question, he said, led him to ask whether today’s political leaders are truly demonstrating soundness of mind given the scale of the country’s crises.
He pointed to the abduction of citizens, including children and security personnel, the inability of Nigerians to travel safely on highways, widespread food insecurity, and what he described as billions of naira being diverted through non-existent agencies and projects.
Obi argued a government acting with sound judgment would treat these challenges as a national emergency, mobilising security agencies, experts, and community leaders to confront them urgently rather than prioritising political calculation.
He raised a separate question drawn from the nomination form, which asks candidates whether they have ever submitted a forged certificate to INEC.
The former governor advised the electoral umpire to publish the academic certificates and credentials submitted by every candidate seeking elective office, saying this would reinforce rule-following among leaders and strengthen public trust in the electoral process.
He concluded that transparency is essential to democracy, and Nigeria’s challenges demand leadership grounded in competence, character, capacity, compassion, and commitment to service rather than politics as usual.
