'Should Politics Be Our Priority?' Peter Obi Questions Leaders After Completing INEC Nomination Form

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has questioned the priorities of Nigeria's political leaders, saying the country's worsening insecurity and economic hardship demand urgent national attention rather than political manoeuvring.

Obi made the remarks on Tuesday in a statement shared via his X account after completing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination process in Abuja.

According to him, a question contained in the nomination form prompted him to reflect on the quality of leadership in the country.

He said the form asked whether a prospective candidate had ever been "adjudged a lunatic or declared a person of unsound mind," a question he said made him consider whether Nigeria's current political leadership was demonstrating the attributes of sound judgment.

Obi argued that while Nigerians grapple with insecurity, kidnappings, unsafe highways, hunger and allegations of wasteful public spending, political leaders should be concentrating on addressing those challenges instead of prioritising political contests.

"When our children are being abducted into the bushes, when citizens cannot travel safely on our highways, and when several million Nigerians are uncertain where their next meal will come from, should politics really be our primary preoccupation?" he asked.

The former Anambra State governor said a leadership exhibiting sound judgment would have convened an emergency meeting involving leaders of different political parties and other key stakeholders to jointly confront the country's security and economic challenges.

He maintained that Nigeria's survival should take precedence over political advantage.

Obi also drew attention to another question on the nomination form, which asks whether an aspirant has ever presented a forged certificate to INEC.

He said the provision underscores the need for greater transparency in the electoral process and suggested that INEC should publicly disclose the academic certificates and credentials submitted by all candidates seeking elective office.

According to him, making such documents publicly available would strengthen public confidence in Nigeria's democratic process and ensure that candidates are held to the same standards of accountability.

Obi concluded by saying Nigeria's challenges require leadership anchored on competence, character, capacity, compassion and commitment to public service.

"Nigeria's problems are too serious for politics as usual," he said, adding that "a new Nigeria is possible."