The National Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria has announced a new initiative to verify the documents of political aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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This measure aims to prevent electoral fraud and enhance the credibility of the electoral process.
Dr. Iliyasu Gashinbaki, the Pioneer President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Institute, made this announcement during a meeting with the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Abuja on Tuesday.
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He emphasized the institute’s commitment to ensuring that all candidates’ documents, including NYSC certificates, tax clearance certificates, and academic qualifications, are thoroughly authenticated before the primary elections.
Dr. Gashinbaki highlighted the necessity of this intervention to avoid embarrassing situations, such as the nullification of the Bayelsa governorship election due to certificate forgery.
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“Politics is too important to be left in the hands of politicians alone,” he stated, underscoring the institute’s role in strengthening the electoral management process.
The institute plans to establish two laboratories dedicated to the verification process, aiming to eliminate the submission of forged or dubious documents by political candidates.
“We’ve had several instances where the deployment of forensic tools could have saved the country from embarrassment and spared the electorate undue stress,” Gashinbaki added.
He pointed to the Bayelsa case as a significant example of the potential impact of their work.
“The election of an elected governor was nullified because of certificate forgery. This shouldn’t have happened. We need to ensure that the people elected by the masses are the ones who actually serve in office.”
The initiative also addresses broader governance issues in Africa, where fraudulent elections can contribute to political instability.
“This is one way to address impunity and improve the recruitment process for political offices, from councilor to president,” Gashinbaki explained.
IPAC Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, welcomed the partnership, viewing it as a crucial step towards resolving the country’s electoral challenges.
“We all agree as Nigerians that we want a better system for all of us,” he said.
He stressed the importance of domesticating solutions to Nigeria’s problems and expressed optimism about the collaboration’s potential to create a more reliable electoral system.
“This partnership is a welcome development,” Dantalle affirmed.
“It must be encouraged and consolidated to ensure we address the foundational issues of our electoral process and governance.”
By working together, the National Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators and IPAC hope to set a new standard for the verification of candidates’ documents, ultimately fostering a more transparent and trustworthy electoral process for Nigeria.
