The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has thrown its weight behind its 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, insisting that the former Anambra State governor has nothing to hide about his academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) records.
The party also challenged Labour Party chieftain, Abayomi Arabambi, to produce evidence questioning the authenticity of Obi’s credentials, following three suits filed against the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the NYSC.
Arabambi is seeking orders of the Federal High Court in Abuja compelling the three institutions to release official records relating to certificates allegedly issued to Obi.
But the NDC dismissed the legal actions as unnecessary, saying Obi’s academic pedigree was verifiable and had already been subjected to public scrutiny.
Speaking on the matter, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said Arabambi had reportedly admitted that he was not questioning the genuineness of Obi’s certificate.
He therefore questioned why the LP chieftain was demanding access to the records.
“The truth is that it is not every dog that barks at you that needs to be challenged. Arabambi has said it himself that he is not doubting the genuineness of Peter Obi’s certificate.
“So, why does he want it? I am sure those institutions feel that his demand is frivolous. That’s why they refused to listen to him,” Director said.
The NDC spokesman, however, acknowledged Arabambi’s constitutional right to approach the courts, saying the party would not stop him from pursuing the matter.
“It is his constitutional right to go to court to ask for anything he so desires. It is his prerogative. That is all we can say,” he added.
Arabambi filed the suit against WAEC with number FHC/ABJ/CS/2064/2026 and the action against NYSC as FHC/ABJ/CS/2063/2026. Both suits were filed on September 1, 2026.
The suit against UNN, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026, was filed on September 9.
The legal actions followed requests allegedly made by Arabambi to the three institutions for information concerning Obi’s academic and NYSC records.
In the WAEC case, Arabambi is seeking a Certified True Copy of WAEC Certificate No. SC042560, reportedly issued to Obi Gregory Onwubuasi in June 1978.
At UNN, he is asking for access to the university’s certificate register, academic and graduation records, Senate or degree-award records and other official documents relating to Certificate No. D000198.
In the NYSC suit, Arabambi is seeking records connected to NYSC Certificate No. 203495, stated to have been issued to “Obi, Gregory Peter-Onwubuasi (Mr)” on May 1, 1986.
He is also asking for information on how the name “Peter-Onwubuasi” appears in the relevant NYSC records.
Court documents showed that WAEC, in a letter dated August 11, 2026, rejected Arabambi’s request, citing provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
Arabambi alleged that UNN and NYSC neither granted his requests nor explained the reasons for refusing them.
He is consequently asking the court to declare the institutions’ refusal or failure to provide the requested information unlawful and compel them to release the records.
His lawyer, Anderson Asemota, filed the suits on his behalf.
Reacting, Director insisted that Obi had no reason to fear scrutiny, stressing that the former Anambra governor had openly challenged anyone with doubts about his credentials to verify them.
“All we know is that our candidate has a verifiable academic pedigree. That is not in doubt. So, we don’t care whatever anybody out there is saying.
“But if he feels Obi has anything to hide, let him excavate it. This is a man who threw a challenge to the whole world to verify him. Can the President also say the same about himself?” he asked.
The NDC spokesman also criticised what he described as excessive attention being given to the certificate controversy, urging the media and politicians to focus on the country’s economic and security challenges.
“I think the media needs to give attention to more pressing issues instead of sentiments and inanities. Let us discuss more on how to improve our economy and how to resolve the perennial threat of insecurity in the country,” he said.
As of the time of filing the report, no date had been fixed for hearing in the three suits.
