Former Labour Party spokesman Abayomi Arabambi has renewed questions about Peter Obi's official records, challenging the former Anambra State governor to explain alleged discrepancies in the names appearing on some of his documents ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Arabambi, who is now a Labour Party chieftain, urged Obi to withdraw from the presidential race unless the issues surrounding his records are satisfactorily clarified.
He also appealed to the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress not to issue Obi a presidential nomination form until the allegations are addressed.
At the centre of Arabambi's complaint are different variations of Obi's name that he claims appear across documents submitted to electoral and educational authorities.
He alleged that Obi identified himself as “Peter Onwubuasi Gregory” on an INEC Form EC9 completed in 2022, while other documents reportedly contain variations including “Obi Gregory Onwubuasi” and “Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi.”
Arabambi argued that the differences require clarification because candidates are expected to provide consistent personal information in official records.
He also raised questions about the names appearing on documents relating to Obi's education at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and his National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate.
The former LP spokesman claimed he had contacted the NYSC, WAEC and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, seeking clarification on the records.
He accused the institutions of delaying their responses and said he was prepared to pursue legal action if the issues remained unresolved.
Arabambi also questioned the dates appearing on some of the documents, including dates he said coincided with public holidays.However, the allegations reported by Punch have not been established as fact by a competent authority, and questions about the authenticity or validity of the documents require confirmation from the institutions involved.
Arabambi said the controversy was not new, recalling that he had raised similar concerns during the 2023 presidential election when he served as Labour Party national publicity secretary.He maintained that he had previously questioned Obi and party officials about the documents but remained dissatisfied with the explanations he received.
The renewed controversy comes as political parties and opposition figures intensify preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
Obi was the Labour Party's presidential candidate in 2023 and emerged as a major opposition figure after securing significant support, particularly among younger voters.His expected participation in the 2027 contest has continued to attract considerable political attention as opposition parties consider possible alliances and candidates.
Arabambi said Obi should address the allegations publicly rather than allow the controversy to remain unresolved.
The latest development adds another layer to the political scrutiny surrounding Obi as the 2027 election approaches.For now, the certificate and identity questions remain allegations raised by a former party spokesman, with further clarification expected from the institutions and individuals directly connected to the records.