The National Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria has unveiled plans to stop politicians from contesting elections with forged certificates.
Dr. Iliyasu Gashinbaki, the Pioneer President and Chairman of the Governing Council, announced this during a meeting with the leadership of the National Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Abuja on Tuesday.
The institute will collaborate with IPAC to authenticate documents of aspirants before the primary elections in the 2027 general elections. “Politics is too important to be left in the hands of politicians,” Gashinbaki stated, emphasizing the need to strengthen the electoral management process through the use of forensic tools to prevent electoral fraud and subsequent embarrassment for the country.
Gashinbaki cited the example of Bayelsa, where an elected governor’s election was nullified due to certificate forgery. He stressed the importance of preventing such situations to avoid the decline of governance and the rise of impunity, which has led to multiple coups across Africa.
To address these issues, the institute is setting up two laboratories critical for the 2027 general elections. These labs will ensure that no forged documents, such as NYSC certificates, tax clearance certificates, or academic certificates, are submitted by politicians.
“We’ll work with IPAC to help in authentication of the documents of candidates that would stand elections before the primary elections,” Gashinbaki reiterated.
Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, Chairman of IPAC and National Chairman of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), supported the initiative, saying, “This partnership, for me and the council, is a welcome development. It must be encouraged and consolidated.”
He expressed hope that Nigerians will agree on the need for a better system and take the necessary steps to address the country’s problems.