Tunisia’s presidential candidate, Ayachi Zammel, has been sentenced to six months in prison just days before the election for using fraudulent certificates.

Zammel was sentenced for falsifying popular endorsement documents to contest the election scheduled to take place on October 6, 2024. However, his lawyer, Abdessattar Massoudi, stated that this action was a ploy to ruin his chances in the polls.

“It is another unjust ruling and a farce that clearly aims to weaken him in the election race, but we will defend his right to the last minute,” Mr Massoudi told Reuters.

Zammel was arrested on September 2, 2024, and charged with falsifying signatures gathered as a requirement to contest for the presidency.

He was released four days later but rearrested over similar allegations and sentenced to prison.

This development sparked massive reactions on Nigerian social media following allegations that emerged during Nigeria’s presidential election in 2023.

President Bola Tinubu was accused of presenting a forged certificate from Chicago State University. After several investigations and inquiries, the Chicago State University confirmed the authenticity of Tinubu’s certificate.

Some Nigerians sent a message to Zammel to visit Nigeria, as they believe that with his forged certificate, he can become a mandate holder.

Others compared Tunisia to Nigeria, calling on the government to emulate the Tunisians by sentencing a presidential candidate to prison for a forged certificate.

@lakeside4lyf: In Nigeria, you see Nobel Laureate, professors, justices, and one Foundational 'something something man' with LAW degree defending a certificate forger. The rot is deep.

@PureStanley1: In Nigeria, the man that forged a CSU certificate, birth certificate, School certificate and also forfeited $460k to the US court for doing drvg was made the president of the most populous black nation in the world.

@chymar_leo: What Nigeria can never do… tribalism and religion kept Nigeria the way it’s today

@simpleiykejnr: Reserves that statement and imagine the same happening in Nigeria, 60% of our politicians would’ve been in jail by now including 001!!

@XtremelifeM: Dear Nigeria, see your mate!

@agodliveshere: Sad. He was born in the wrong country.
This man would have been a mandate holder in Nigeria.

@Kess_mega: This is a working country, that values transparency and the rule of law.

@chimumsy1: Just change country to Nigeria. You will be elected come 2027

@RickRudeboy: We make them presidents and governors in Nigeria

@MrOzor1: Let him come to Nigeria

@petithazard2: Tinubu and edo apc governor are now national heroes

@Niellsbaba: Oh no, this is unacceptable, it means they don't have enough SANs like Festus Keyamo (great men do) to defend forgery. In Naija he is already the president because, why not have a criminal as president, you know, it's spicy to some Yoruba people. Omoluabi in the mud

@UnlimitedEniola: When the judiciary didn’t take bribe