The Labour Party (LP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to its 2023 presidential election candidate, Peter Obi, demanding transparency regarding his academic records and the resolution of discrepancies in his certificates. Failure to comply with this directive will result in his suspension from the party.
This ultimatum was communicated through a statement released on Tuesday by the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Abayomi Arabambi.
Arabambi strongly criticized Tanko Yinusa, the spokesperson for the Peter Obi/Datti Ahmed presidential campaign council, for dismissing allegations that Peter Obi had impersonated his deceased elder brother.
Arabambi posed a series of questions, demanding answers: “What is the name of this supposed elder brother of Peter Obi who studied computer science? When did Peter Obi’s elder brother pass away? What names were on his secondary school certificate and University of Nigeria Nsukka certificate? What was his brother’s profession? Where is Peter Obi’s birth certificate, and what name does it bear? Why does the name on his birth certificate differ from the one on his school certificate? How does the name on his school certificate differ from his UNN certificate? Which university facilitated Peter Obi’s mandatory one-year NYSC service, and why does the name on his NYSC certificate not match the name on his University of Nigeria Nsukka certificate?”
Arabambi emphasized the need for Peter Obi to provide a credible response to these inquiries, rectify discrepancies in his academic records, and clarify his true identity to avoid any further embarrassment to the party.
Arabambi pointed out that Peter Obi’s response failed to address the allegations of forgery, impersonation, and inconsistencies in his academic records, and no evidence was provided to counter these claims.
Additionally, the Labour Party questioned why Peter Obi only submitted his WAEC certificate, despite failing to meet the minimum requirements for admission to a Nigerian university, specifically the mandatory credit passes in both mathematics and English.
The party further demanded that Peter Obi explain the circumstances surrounding the use of different names in various schools and public documents, urging him to respond to these queries rather than resorting to blackmail and emotional tactics.
The Labour Party challenged Peter Obi to address these concerns and clear the air surrounding his identity. They suggested that he take legal action against the party or petition the Inspector General of Police for defamation, which would provide an opportunity to involve the authorities of his secondary school, University of Nigeria Nsukka, and the National Youth Service Corp to resolve the discrepancies.
Failure to comply with this ultimatum within the next 48 hours will result in Peter Obi’s suspension from the Labour Party, according to Arabambi.
