Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has praised the resignation of Innovation Minister Uche Nnaji amid a certificate forgery controversy, calling the move "decent and honourable." Nnaji stepped down from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet following public scrutiny over discrepancies in his academic credentials.

Obi took to his $\text{X}$ platform on Thursday to state that the incident, which he compared to the previous resignation of Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun over her $\text{NYSC}$ certificate, underscores a failure in leadership integrity. He stressed that these matters are "serious criminal offences."

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Obi issued a strong call to action for the Independent National Electoral Commission ($\text{INEC}$) and other agencies. He urged them to immediately authenticate all academic and professional certificates for every political candidate, from the Presidency down to local government councilors.

"We cannot continue to allow dishonesty and criminality to sit at the heart of leadership," Obi stated.

He further demanded a comprehensive national review of the background verification process for all public office holders, pointing to other nations like Ghana that thoroughly cross-check candidates’ educational claims.

Obi criticized $\text{INEC}$ for carrying out "little or no due diligence," arguing that continuous false claims and forged credentials undermine the credibility of Nigerian democracy. He insisted that if the nation wants free, fair, and credible elections in 2027, the process of integrity must start now.

The statement concluded with an insistence that incumbent and aspiring candidates must "submit all academic certificates immediately for verification and public accessibility," detailing schools attended from primary through university level, so that truth and accountability form the foundation of public service.