Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has authorised the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and other institutions he attended to release his academic records to members of the public who make legitimate requests.
Obi made the disclosure on Tuesday amid a legal challenge over access to his credentials, saying candidates seeking the country’s highest political office should be prepared to subject their backgrounds and qualifications to public scrutiny.
The former Anambra State governor said he had no objection to the release of his academic records, provided such disclosure was made within the limits of the law.
His position followed a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by Abayomi Arabambi, a former Labour Party spokesperson, against UNN over the alleged refusal to release records relating to Obi’s academic qualification.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026 and filed on September 9, Arabambi asked the court to compel the university and its Vice-Chancellor to respond to his request under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
Arabambi said he had requested a certified true copy of certificate number D000198, which he said related to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy allegedly issued to Obi by UNN in 1984. He also sought access to the academic records or other official documents on which the degree was based.
Obi, however, said he welcomed legitimate scrutiny of his educational background and challenged other presidential candidates to adopt a similar approach by making their academic qualifications and relevant records available for public examination.
He said public scrutiny of candidates should be lawful, fair and applied consistently, arguing that greater openness over the qualifications of political leaders could strengthen public confidence and accountability.
The development is part of a broader dispute over Obi’s credentials, with Arabambi also filing separate suits against the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) over access to records relating to the former governor.
The Labour Party has meanwhile distanced itself from Arabambi, who was formerly associated with the party, following the legal action over Obi’s records.
Separately, the Peter Obi Media Office has raised another issue ahead of the 2027 presidential election, questioning reports that about 600 university academics endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Idris Zekeri Jnr., the media office said the reported endorsement deserved attention because university academics have historically been recruited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for election duties, including returning and collation officers.
The group argued that academics who publicly endorse political candidates could face questions about perceived neutrality if they are subsequently appointed to sensitive electoral positions. It urged INEC to identify the academics involved and consider the implications of their participation in election duties.
The Obi media office also called on INEC to publish the names of prospective returning and collation officers ahead of the 2027 election, while urging university governing councils to strengthen rules governing conflicts of interest and political activity among academic staff.
The allegations by the media office have not established that the academics in question would be appointed as electoral officials or that their reported endorsement would affect the conduct of the 2027 election. The call for their exclusion therefore remains a demand from Obi’s media office rather than an announced INEC decision.
