The National Vice Chairman of the Labour Party in the South-West, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi, has called on the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, alleging that discrepancies in the names appearing on the former Anambra State governor’s official documents amount to multiple identities.
Arabambi made the allegations on Monday during an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM’s Frontline programme, where he claimed Obi’s West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate, University of Nigeria, Nsukka degree certificate, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate and documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) bear conflicting names.
He maintained that the alleged inconsistencies raise serious legal and ethical questions that Obi must address before seeking the nation’s highest office.
According to Arabambi, he was directly involved in the Labour Party’s 2022 presidential primary in Asaba, Delta State, where Obi emerged as the party’s presidential candidate, giving him first hand knowledge of the documentation process.
“I was not aware. I was not privy. Because that day, I had my own candidate, Oluwadare Fabiyi Joseph, who mobilised delegates from across the states to Asaba,” he said.
He explained that the party’s National Chairman at the time, Julius Abure, persuaded him to convince his preferred aspirant to step down in order to allow the primary to proceed with Obi.
“The chairman, Julius Abure, compelled me to plead with that candidate, which we did, and we started that primary around four,” he said.
Arabambi alleged that shortly after the primary, Obi completed his INEC nomination documents and, when asked whether he possessed academic qualifications beyond his WAEC certificate, responded in the negative.
“I remember asking him a question, ‘Do you have any other certificate?’ He said, ‘No.’ I said, ‘No problem,'” Arabambi claimed.
He added that Obi later informed him that he attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, completed the National Youth Service Corps and possessed a First School Leaving Certificate.
According to him, the issue resurfaced during post election legal proceedings when questions surrounding the academic records of political figures became a subject of national debate.
Arabambi claimed that documents later submitted by Obi contained inconsistencies in the arrangement and composition of his names.
“He said his name in the INEC form was Peter Gregory Obi, but in the WAEC certificate he submitted, the name became Obi Gregory Onwubuasi. Peter disappeared,” he alleged.
He further claimed that Obi’s university certificate presented another variation.
“In the University of Nigeria certificate, the name became Gregory Peter Onwubuasi Obi. In law, the arrangement of names is not a trivial matter,” he said.
Arabambi also questioned Obi’s admission into the University of Nigeria, alleging that the WAEC result submitted did not satisfy the admission requirements for Philosophy at the time.
“For you to study Philosophy, you must have five credits, including English and Mathematics. But Obi entered the university with passes in English and Mathematics and only two credits. That is another issue that requires explanation,” he alleged.
The Labour Party chieftain equally raised questions over the dates on Obi’s university degree and NYSC discharge certificates, describing them as unusual because they were allegedly issued on days that fell on a Saturday and Workers’ Day, respectively.
“His University of Nigeria certificate was issued on December 15, 1984, which fell on a Saturday. The NYSC certificate was issued on May 1, Workers’ Day. These are issues that deserve explanation,” he said.
Arabambi also alleged that Obi was once detained at a United Kingdom airport over identity related concerns arising from differences in the names on his travel documents, although he did not provide evidence or specific details of the incident.
He further argued that the varying names across Obi’s documents should have been supported by a formal affidavit of change of name.
“Whether it is name alignment or not, it is supposed to be backed up by an affidavit of change of name. I am a litigant. I know what I am talking about,” he said.
Arabambi recalled a previous public comment attributed to Obi, in which the former Anambra governor reportedly said he would withdraw from the presidential race if even one per cent of corruption or inadequacy was established against him.
“On Rufai Oseni’s podcast, he said if I establish just one per cent of corruption or inadequacy against him, he would step down. What I have presented is even more than one per cent,” Arabambi stated.
While dismissing claims that he was acting on behalf of President Bola Tinubu or any political interest, Arabambi insisted his position was driven by the need for accountability and transparency.
“They will say I am sponsored by Tinubu. That is their business. I have never even met him. I belong to the same church as the First Lady. Nothing more,” he said.
He maintained that his call was not intended to stop Obi from contesting the election but was based on what he described as unresolved questions surrounding the former governor’s identity and documentation.
“With what I have shown now, Obi should step down from the 2027 presidential election,” he said.
