Peter Obi with NDC Logo
2027: LP Chieftain Sues WAEC, UNN, NYSC Over Peter Obi’s Credentials
ABUJA — The academic and National Youth Service Corps records of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, have come under fresh scrutiny following three separate suits filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The suits, instituted by Abayomi Arabambi, a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), seek orders of mandamus compelling the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to release official records relating to certificates allegedly issued to Obi.
The legal actions are based on provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2011, with Arabambi alleging that the institutions failed to provide information he requested concerning the academic credentials and NYSC records of the former Anambra State governor.
The three cases were filed separately.
The suit against WAEC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2064/2026, and the action against NYSC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2063/2026, were filed on September 1, 2026.
The separate suit against UNN, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026, was filed on September 9, 2026.
Arabambi filed the cases through his legal team led by Anderson Asemota.
However, the plaintiff has stressed that he is not asking the Federal High Court to determine whether the certificates associated with Obi are genuine or forged.
Instead, he is asking the court to compel the institutions to disclose their existing official records so that the status and particulars of the certificates can be established from the records of the organisations that allegedly issued or processed them.
The distinction is significant because the suits, as presently constituted, do not amount to a judicial finding that Peter Obi’s certificates are forged, invalid or fraudulent.
In the WAEC case, Arabambi is asking the court to compel the examination body to release a Certified True Copy (CTC) of WAEC Certificate No. SC042560, which the plaintiff says was issued to “Obi Gregory Onwubuase” in June 1978.
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He is also seeking information that would enable him to establish the circumstances surrounding the certificate and its details.
Arabambi said he had previously written to WAEC requesting the information under the Freedom of Information Act, but the examination body declined the request.
WAEC reportedly communicated its refusal in a letter dated August 11, 2026, citing Sections 14(1)(a) and 14(2)(a) and (b) of the FOI Act.
The plaintiff is challenging the refusal and wants the court to declare that the grounds relied upon by WAEC were not sufficient to deny him access to the requested information.
The suit against University of Nigeria, Nsukka focuses on Certificate No. D000198, which Arabambi says relates to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy allegedly awarded to Obi.
He is asking the university to release its certificate register, academic records, graduation records, Senate or degree-award records, as well as other existing official documents relevant to the certificate, insofar as such records exist.
The plaintiff said his request was intended to establish what the university’s own records show concerning the certificate rather than to ask the court to pronounce on its authenticity.
He is specifically seeking an order compelling UNN to communicate the result of any verification of Certificate No. D000198 based on its existing official records, including whether the certificate and its particulars appear in those records.
According to the court processes, Arabambi had earlier written to the university under the FOI Act but alleged that the request was not granted.
A subsequent reminder was also reportedly sent after the initial request did not receive the response he expected.
The third suit concerns NYSC Certificate No. 203495, which Arabambi says was issued on May 1, 1986, to “Obi, Gregory Peter-Onwubuase (Mr.).”
The plaintiff wants the NYSC to release the relevant certificate and any existing official records, documents or other materials upon which the certificate was based or issued.
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He is also seeking information about the appearance of the name “Peter-Onwubuase” in the relevant NYSC records.
The request is intended, among other things, to establish what the NYSC’s official records show about the certificate and the particulars attached to it.
Arabambi has told the court that the information he is seeking is in the public interest, particularly because it relates to transparency and accountability concerning a person seeking election to public office.
He is asking the court to compel the institutions to disclose information that is not legally exempt and to identify any portion of the requested information they believe is protected from disclosure.
One of the reliefs sought by the plaintiff is an order directing the respondents, where they contend that any part of the information is exempt, to identify the specific information withheld and the precise statutory provision relied upon for the refusal.
He is also seeking disclosure of any severable portion of the records that is not covered by a lawful exemption.
Another relief invokes Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act, asking the court to order disclosure if it determines that the institutions are not authorised to deny access, lack reasonable grounds for doing so, or that the public interest in disclosure outweighs the interest served by withholding the information.
The cases have emerged amid heightened political attention to the credentials of presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.
Obi, who previously contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, is now the NDC presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The legal action by Arabambi, who remains a Labour Party chieftain, therefore introduces another layer to the political contest surrounding the opposition candidate.
The controversy over Obi’s academic records is not entirely new, as questions about his certificates and names appearing on official documents have previously generated political debate and public commentary.
Supporters of Obi have in the past rejected allegations questioning the validity of his educational credentials.
The current cases, however, seek to obtain information directly from the institutions whose records are expected to contain details about the certificates.
The Federal High Court will therefore be asked to determine whether the plaintiff is entitled under the FOI Act to the information he requested and whether the respondents were legally justified in withholding or refusing to provide the records.
The outcome could have wider implications for access to official records concerning public office seekers, particularly where requests involve educational qualifications, professional credentials and other documents submitted for electoral purposes.
For now, there has been no judicial finding that Peter Obi’s certificates are forged or invalid.
The immediate issue before the court is whether WAEC, UNN and NYSC should be compelled to release or verify the relevant records requested by Arabambi.
As of September 13, 2026, no hearing date had been fixed for the three suits.
The cases are expected to attract significant attention as political parties and candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
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