Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to begin immediate and thorough verification of all academic and professional certificates submitted by political candidates, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Obi made the call in a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, stressing that Nigeria’s democratic future depends heavily on transparency, integrity, and accountability in the electoral process.

His comments come in the wake of the resignation of Uche Nnaji, the now-former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who stepped down following allegations of discrepancies in his academic qualifications.

“I commend Mr. Nnaji for taking a decent and honourable step by resigning,” Obi wrote, adding that it reflects a sense of responsibility that should be encouraged in public service.

Obi drew a parallel with the 2018 resignation of former Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, who left office over a forged NYSC exemption certificate under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“These instances remind us that such matters are not trivial. They are criminal offences that must be taken seriously,” Obi noted.

The former Anambra governor expressed deep concern that INEC has failed to conduct adequate background checks on candidates, allowing individuals with questionable credentials to occupy public office.

“It is appalling that our electoral body carries out little or no due diligence in confirming certificates submitted by candidates,” Obi stated.

“Continuous discrepancies, false declarations, and forged documents not only discredit the individuals involved but also erode public trust in our democracy.”

He urged INEC to start early, urging that all political aspirants, from presidential hopefuls to local councillors, be required to submit verifiable academic records, including institutions attended from primary school to university.

According to Obi, if Nigeria hopes to deliver a credible and transparent election in 2027, the process of integrity must begin now.

“INEC has enough time to investigate existing complaints about forgery and false claims. All candidates, especially incumbents, should submit their documents for verification and public scrutiny,” he emphasized.

He concluded by calling for a shift in the political culture, one that values honesty and public accountability over deceit.

“Let truth, transparency, and accountability form the foundation of leadership in our dear country,” Obi said.

“Only then can we build a Nigeria where public service is anchored on honour, not fraud. We must get it right.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has joined growing calls for the immediate release of detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, describing his continued incarceration as a “blight on Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law.”

In a strongly-worded post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, Atiku expressed full support for a nationwide campaign being spearheaded by activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, to secure Kanu’s freedom.

“The continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains an open sore on our nation’s conscience and a stain on our belief in the rule of law. Defying court orders that granted him bail is an abuse of power and an assault on justice,” Atiku wrote.

He added, “I, therefore, lend my voice in full support of the campaign led by @YeleSowore for his immediate release or due prosecution. We fail as patriots if we allow Kanu’s case to fester as yet another wound this nation refuses to heal.”

Sowore had earlier announced plans for a peaceful protest march to the Aso Rock Villa on October 20, urging political leaders, especially from the South-East, to stop making “empty statements” and actively participate in demanding Kanu’s release.

In his outreach, Sowore reportedly contacted several prominent Igbo figures including Anambra State Governor Prof. Charles Soludo, Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe among others.

According to him, responses so far have been mixed. While some leaders were unavailable or non-committal, he said Atiku’s endorsement marks a turning point in the campaign.

“This is not the time for hesitation,” Sowore wrote. “If we genuinely believe that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu deserves freedom, then every leader of conscience must act now, not later.”

He further disclosed that although some lawmakers in the Abia State House of Assembly preferred formal diplomatic steps over street protests, they had expressed readiness to pursue legal avenues through the Attorney General of the Federation.

Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his controversial re-arrest in 2021, which followed what many legal experts have described as an extraordinary rendition from Kenya.

Despite several court orders mandating his release, including an October 2022 Court of Appeal judgment that acquitted him, federal authorities have refused to set him free.

The government insists he must still answer to terrorism and treason-related charges, all of which Kanu has consistently denied.

Former Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development in Enugu State, Professor Victor Nnam has thrown his weight behind the G17 for Peter Mbah movement, a grassroots mobilisation platform championing the re-election of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah in 2027.

In a statement released to journalists on Thursday, Nnam expressed deep admiration for the group’s mission, describing it as “a timely and people-oriented platform capable of consolidating the gains of the current administration.”

He commended the group’s Convener and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Hon. Chinedu Mbah, for what he called “a bold and strategic move to engage the grassroots and galvanize support across communities.”

“The G17 initiative is not only commendable but necessary at this time,” Nnam said.

“It reflects the voice of the people and demonstrates a clear understanding of the developmental strides Governor Mbah has made. I am proud to identify with such a forward-thinking group.”

According to Nnam, Governor Mbah’s achievements deserve continuity and the G17 is leading the charge.

“We’ve seen remarkable progress in urban planning, road construction, education and public service delivery. Leadership like this should not be interrupted. The G17 is helping to ensure that the voice of the grassroots shapes the political direction of our state,” Nnam added.

Professor Nnam, a respected academic and development consultant, revealed plans to begin active mobilisation across the 17 local government areas of Enugu State, leveraging his extensive network of political and community contacts.

He urged other well-meaning citizens, especially professionals and technocrats to “rise above partisan politics and rally around a performing governor who has shown genuine commitment to transforming Enugu.”

“This is not just about politics, it’s about the future of our state. Peter Mbah has shown capacity and we must all contribute to building on this momentum,” he said.

The Nigerian Presidency has strongly pushed back against a recent World Bank report estimating that 139 million Nigerians currently live in poverty.

The government called the figure “unrealistic” and said it misrepresents local economic conditions.

In a statement posted to social media, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, argued that the World Bank’s poverty model is based on outdated metrics and doesn’t capture the complexities of Nigeria’s informal and subsistence economies.

“The figure is based on a global poverty benchmark of $2.15/day, set in 2017 under Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms. When converted to today’s nominal value, it equates to roughly ₦100,000 per month, which is above Nigeria’s new minimum wage of ₦70,000,” Dare said.

He added that the World Bank’s numbers are theoretical projections, not actual real-time headcounts of Nigerians living in poverty.

The Presidency stated that Nigeria is currently on a path of recovery and reform, emphasizing that economic hardship is being tackled through structural policy changes rather than temporary relief.

Key government initiatives highlighted include Conditional Cash Transfers to over 15 million households, with ₦297 billion disbursed since 2023, Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, targeting micro-projects across 8,809 wards, Expanded N-Power, TraderMoni, FarmerMoni, and School Feeding Programmes, Subsidised food distribution and fertiliser access to ease inflation, Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund, supporting housing, roads, and energy as well as National Credit Guarantee Company, enabling access to small business loans.

The Tinubu administration said it’s focused on building a resilient and inclusive economy, correcting decades of neglect and systemic problems.

Structural reforms like fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, while painful, are necessary to stabilize the economy, officials said.

“Even the World Bank acknowledges signs of macroeconomic improvement, rising revenue, stabilizing FX, and easing inflation,” the statement added.

Despite acknowledging Nigeria’s reform efforts, the World Bank expressed concern that poverty continues to rise.

During the release of the October 2025 Nigeria Development Update, Country Director Mathew Verghis said that while Nigeria’s macroeconomic indicators are improving, these gains have yet to translate into better living conditions for most Nigerians.

“Poverty has increased since 2019 and continues to rise. In 2025, we estimate that 139 million Nigerians live in poverty,” Verghis said.

The figure is a significant jump from 129 million in April 2025 and 87 million in 2023.

Opposition parties, labour unions, and analysts reacted with varying degrees of criticism and support.

Tony Akeni of the Labour Party said the poverty figures reflect the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians, claiming government reforms have yet to yield tangible benefits.

Ladipo Johnson of the NNPP warned of growing debt and worsening conditions due to poor policy execution.

Timothy Osadolor of the PDP accused the government of misleading the public, adding, “We don’t need the World Bank to tell us people are hungry.”

Bola Abdullahi of the ADC dismissed the government’s growth claims as meaningless to the average citizen.

Chris Onyeka of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said, “Poverty is not a statistic, it is a lived experience,” lamenting that a ₦70,000 wage barely covers a bag of rice.

Economists acknowledged that reforms are necessary but stress the need for short-term relief measures to ease the impact on citizens.

Muda Yusuf (CPPE) noted that the transition phase of economic recovery has worsened poverty due to inflation.

Prof. Akpan Ekpo called for double-digit, sustained growth and heavy investments in human capital.

Okechukwu Unegbu, a former bank chief, warned against overreliance on World Bank data but admitted that poverty is widespread.

Teslim Shitta-Bey of Proshare said the key challenge is ensuring reform gains benefit ordinary people, calling for more digital and energy infrastructure.