The Nigeria Democratic Congress on Sunday, September 13, 2026, defended its 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, after Abayomi Arabambi filed three suits seeking access to records relating to his academic and National Youth Service Corps credentials.
Arabambi instituted the cases at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the West African Examinations Council, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the NYSC under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
The WAEC and NYSC suits, FHC/ABJ/CS/2064/2026 and FHC/ABJ/CS/2063/2026, were filed on September 1, 2026, while the UNN case, FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026, was filed on September 9, 2026.
In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, published on Monday, September 14, NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said Obi’s academic record was verifiable and questioned the basis for seeking the documents.
Director said the party would not stop Arabambi from pursuing the matter in court, describing it as his constitutional right.
Arabambi’s lawyer, Anderson Asemota, filed the suits following requests made to the three institutions for records concerning certificates attributed to Obi.
In the WAEC case, Arabambi is seeking a Certified True Copy of Certificate No. SC042560, identified as having been issued to Obi Gregory Onwubuasi in June 1978.
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The UNN suit concerns Certificate No. D000198, identified as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy awarded in 1984. He is seeking related academic, graduation, certificate-register and degree-award records.
The NYSC action relates to Certificate No. 203495, stated to have been issued on May 1, 1986, to “Obi, Gregory Peter-Onwubuasi (Mr.)”. Arabambi also wants records clarifying the use of the name “Peter-Onwubuasi”.
Court documents show that WAEC rejected his request in a letter dated August 11, 2026, citing provisions of the FOI Act. Arabambi alleged that UNN and NYSC failed to provide the requested information or explain their position.
He is asking the court to declare the alleged refusals unlawful and compel the institutions to release the records.
Director maintained that Obi had nothing to hide and urged political actors and the media to focus on the country’s economic and security challenges.
The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of political candidates’ qualifications ahead of the 2027 general election. Similar disputes featured in the litigation over the 2023 presidential election, when challenges to President Bola Tinubu’s eligibility and academic qualifications were rejected by the courts. The Supreme Court affirmed Tinubu’s election on October 26, 2023.
The current suits, however, concern access to institutional records and do not amount to a judicial finding that Obi’s qualifications are invalid.
No hearing date had been fixed for the three cases as of the time of filing this report.