- INEC said it published only the credentials submitted by presidential candidates
- The commission said Tinubu’s missing school certificates were not submitted to it
- The explanation comes amid fresh legal challenges over Tinubu’s credentials
The Independent National Electoral Commission has explained that the absence of President Bola Tinubu’s primary and secondary school certificates from the documents it published for 2027 presidential candidates was because those documents were not among the credentials submitted to the commission.
Eko Hot Blog reports that a senior INEC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the electoral body’s responsibility was to publish the documents provided by candidates rather than independently question, modify or add to them.
EDITOR’S PICK
- Osun Election: INEC Reports 94.5% Polling Units Opened on Time
- THEDSF Visits Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Seeks Royal Support for Youth Mobilisation
- Super Falcons Miss Women’s World Cup for First Time
The official explained that the publication was also designed to give members of the public an opportunity to examine candidates’ credentials and raise objections where they identify concerns.
“We only published what was submitted to the commission,” the source said, adding that INEC had no authority to alter the documents presented by candidates.
The clarification followed reactions from Nigerians after INEC released the credentials of presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 election, with no primary or secondary school certificates listed among Tinubu’s published documents.
The issue comes amid fresh legal and political challenges over the President’s qualifications and credentials.
A legal practitioner and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Kalu Agu, reportedly petitioned the European Commission in Brussels, alleging that Tinubu submitted false academic credentials to INEC in connection with his 2027 presidential bid.
Agu also alleged that Tinubu did not provide details of the primary and secondary schools he attended in documents submitted to the electoral commission.
A video shared on X by Paul Ibe, a media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, showed Agu presenting the petition to the European Commission.
The lawyer called on the European Union to intervene over what he described as an alleged threat to Nigeria’s constitutional order.
Meanwhile, Atiku, the presidential candidate of the ADC, has also approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking Tinubu’s disqualification from the 2027 presidential election over allegations surrounding his National Youth Service Corps certificate.
Atiku personally visited the court registry on Friday to swear to an affidavit supporting the case filed against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress and INEC.
The suit cited provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Electoral Act 2026, particularly the constitutional provision barring candidates who present forged certificates to INEC from contesting for the presidency.
Atiku and the ADC are asking the court to determine whether Tinubu should be disqualified if the allegation that he submitted a forged NYSC certificate is established.
In his affidavit, Atiku alleged that the NYSC discharge certificate submitted by Tinubu carries the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” instead of “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The plaintiffs are also seeking an order preventing Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election should the court uphold the allegations.
Atiku maintained that public office should not shield any candidate from scrutiny over the authenticity of credentials submitted for an election.
He also urged INEC to demonstrate its impartiality by making relevant electoral records available in relation to the matter.
FURTHER READING
