As political activities gather momentum ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, leading socio-political organisations have called for thorough scrutiny of presidential candidates, insisting that voters must have access to their personal histories, educational backgrounds, achievements and records in public life before deciding who to support.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and Middle Belt Forum (MBF) separately backed the call, arguing that those seeking the country’s highest office should be prepared to account for their past and demonstrate the experience, integrity and competence required to govern.
The debate follows renewed concerns over the credibility and qualifications of political candidates, with the groups saying public scrutiny should extend beyond academic certificates to include the broader record and character of aspirants.
‘Your past must be clear’ — ACF
The ACF Publicity Secretary, Prof Tukur Baba, said anyone seeking to lead Nigeria should expect legitimate questions about their background.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Mr Baba said Nigerians had a right to understand the history of those seeking their votes, particularly candidates aspiring to become president and Commander-in-Chief.
He argued that the issue should not be reduced to whether a candidate possesses the required certificates, saying the credibility and consistency of a person’s story were equally important.
“If you are presenting yourself for election to the highest office in Nigeria, holding lives together, being the Commander-in-Chief, it is legitimate to ask questions,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria needs a stronger leadership-selection process in which aspirants are subjected to rigorous scrutiny before attaining the highest political offices.
He, however, noted that what ultimately matters to ordinary Nigerians is the quality of governance delivered by whoever emerges, including improvements in healthcare, education, housing, transport and household welfare.
PANDEF backs transparency
PANDEF National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, also supported the call, describing it as a reasonable expectation for anyone seeking public office.
Mr Igali said presidential candidates should make their life journeys available to the electorate so voters could properly assess the strengths and weaknesses they would bring to public service.
He compared seeking political office to applying for a job, arguing that employers ordinarily require applicants to provide their CVs and account for their previous experiences.
He said Nigerians should similarly be able to ask candidates who they are, where they have been and what they have achieved before entrusting them with political power.
MBF: Nigerians need records, not promises
The Middle Belt Forum also endorsed greater scrutiny of presidential hopefuls, stressing that candidates should present verifiable records of their achievements rather than rely solely on campaign promises.
The forum’s position forms part of a growing demand for greater accountability and transparency as political parties and aspirants position themselves for the 2027 contest.
The organisations’ positions have, however, raised a wider question over how far public scrutiny of candidates should go and where the line should be drawn between legitimate public interest, constitutional requirements and subjective moral judgments.
Afenifere General Secretary, Chief Ademola Folarin, cautioned that while examining candidates’ backgrounds was desirable, moral assessments could be subjective and should not supersede constitutional and legal requirements for eligibility.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the debate is increasingly shifting beyond party loyalty and campaign promises towards the records, competence and personal histories of those seeking Nigerians’ mandate.
For the electorate, the central question may ultimately be whether candidates can demonstrate not only that they are legally qualified to contest, but also that their previous records provide credible evidence of their ability to govern Nigeria effectively.
