Obi Completes INEC Nomination Form, Questions Politicians’ ‘Sound Mind’

THE presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has confirmed that he has completed and submitted his nomination form to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ending days of uncertainty after the electoral umpire initially denied his party access to its candidate upload portal.

Mr Obi disclosed the development in a statement on his verified X handle on Tuesday, following an announcement by the party’s national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, that the access code had been restored and that Mr Obi’s name had been successfully uploaded to the INEC portal.

The confirmation comes after a Federal High Court in Kogi State ordered the deregistration of the NDC, a judgment that had sparked widespread outrage and cast doubt on the party’s ability to field candidates in the 2027 general elections. Senator Dickson, however, insisted that the party had filed an appeal and a stay of execution, and that the nomination process remained valid.

‘Are We of Sound Mind?’

Reflecting on the contents of the nomination form, the former Anambra State governor said a particular question had prompted him to assess the quality of leadership in the country.

“While completing my INEC nomination form yesterday, Section E, Question 1 caught my attention. It asks: ‘Have you ever been adjudged a lunatic or been declared a person of unsound mind?’ The answer is either Yes or No,” Mr Obi wrote.

“That question got me thinking: Can we, as the political leaders of today’s Nigeria, truly say we are exhibiting the characteristics of a sound mind?” he queried.

Mr Obi argued that a sound-minded leadership would have declared the nation’s worsening security and economic crises a national emergency and mobilised all relevant institutions to confront them with urgency.

“When Nigerians, including children and security personnel, are being abducted into the bushes, citizens cannot travel safely on our highways, several million Nigerians are uncertain where their next meal will come from, and several billions are being siphoned frivolously through non-existent agencies and projects, should politics really be our primary preoccupation?” he asked.

Call for Transparency on Credentials

The NDC presidential candidate also challenged INEC to publish the academic certificates and credentials submitted by all political aspirants, arguing that such a move would strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

Citing another question on the form – “Have you ever presented a forged certificate to INEC?” – Mr Obi questioned why the commission should not make full disclosure a logical next step.

“Why shouldn’t INEC, in the interest of ensuring that our leaders are exemplary in following the rules and to strengthen public confidence in our electoral process, publish the academic certificates and credentials submitted by every candidate seeking elective office?” he queried.

“Transparency strengthens democracy and builds public trust. Nigeria’s problems are too serious for politics as usual. It is time for leadership defined by competence, character, capacity, compassion, and commitment to service,” Mr Obi added.

Senator Dickson, meanwhile, has assured supporters that there is sufficient time to complete the nomination process, with INEC’s timetable allowing until 11 July for National Assembly candidates and 17 July for governorship and State Assembly candidates.