- Labour Party Disowns Arabambi
By Our Reporter, With Agency Reports
PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has authorised the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and other academic institutions he attended to release his academic certificates and records to anyone making a legitimate request.
Obi gave the authorisation in a statement made available to newsmen in Awka on Tuesday by his media aide, Mr Valentine Obienyem.
The development comes amid renewed scrutiny of the former Anambra governor’s academic credentials following a suit filed against UNN, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) over records relating to his educational background.
A Labour Party chieftain, Abayomi Arabambi, was reported to have instituted the legal action at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking, among other things, certified true copies of records relating to a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy allegedly awarded to Obi by UNN in 1984.
Obi, however, said he had no objection to the disclosure of his academic records, describing public scrutiny of the educational qualifications of those seeking public office as legitimate and consistent with democratic principles.
According to him, he would welcome UNN making his academic certificates, records and other official documents available in response to legitimate requests and within the limits permitted by law.
He also gave his consent to other educational institutions he attended within and outside Nigeria to release his academic records in accordance with applicable laws and procedures.
“As a presidential candidate seeking the trust of Nigerians to lead our country, I welcome legitimate public interest in my background, qualifications and record,” he said.
Obi said anyone seeking the highest office in the country should be prepared to undergo reasonable scrutiny and demonstrate through words and actions that there was nothing to conceal from the electorate.
He challenged other presidential candidates to similarly make their educational qualifications and relevant records available for legitimate public scrutiny.
Such disclosure, he said, would strengthen public confidence, promote accountability and help rebuild trust in political leadership.
The former governor maintained that leadership should reflect values such as transparency, integrity, accountability and respect for institutions.
“I therefore welcome the scrutiny of my academic background and remain committed to the principle that those who ask Nigerians for their trust must also be willing to earn that trust through openness and accountability,” he said.
However, the Labour Party has rejected media descriptions of Arabambi as a member or chieftain of the party, stressing that his legal action should not be attributed to the organisation.
In a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ken Eluma Asogwa, the party said it was compelled to respond after reports in some mainstream media described Arabambi as an “LP chieftain” who sued WAEC, UNN and NYSC over Obi’s credentials.
The party said Arabambi was among 25 members suspended by its National Executive Council (NEC) on March 18, 2026, over various infractions bordering on anti-party activities.
According to the statement, the suspension was subsequently ratified by the party’s National Convention on April 28, 2026, after which the affected individuals ceased to be members of the Labour Party.
It added that no organ of the party had subsequently revisited or reversed the decision concerning the affected members.
“Abayomi Arabambi is not a member of the Labour Party and could not have instituted any action in court as a member of the Party, having long severed ties with the Labour Party,” the party said.
The Labour Party further warned that if Arabambi had presented himself as a chieftain or representative of the party, such representation was unauthorised and could amount to impersonation.
It said its lawyers were reviewing the matter to determine appropriate legal and other steps, including a possible petition to relevant law-enforcement authorities.
The party, however, stressed that its clarification had no bearing on the substance or validity of Arabambi’s claims against Obi before the court.
The Labour Party also noted that Obi is no longer a member of the party, and therefore said it would not comment on the merits of the case concerning his academic records.
The clarification effectively separates the Labour Party from the litigation while leaving the court to determine the merits of the claims concerning Obi’s academic records.
Meanwhile, Obi has maintained that he is willing to subject his academic background to lawful public scrutiny and has called on all presidential candidates to embrace the same level of openness.
