- Ndume dismissed the renewed certificate controversy
- He said Tinubu meets constitutional requirements
- He urged opposition parties to focus on governance
Senator Ali Ndume, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, has dismissed the renewed controversy over President Bola Tinubu’s academic credentials, describing it as an unnecessary distraction ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Ndume made the remarks in a statement on Monday while responding to fresh questions raised by opposition parties following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s release of the academic qualifications submitted by presidential candidates.
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The senator argued that Tinubu had met the constitutional requirements for contesting the presidency, stressing that the law does not require a specific secondary school certificate as the sole evidence of eligibility.
Ndume referred to Section 131(d) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that a presidential candidate must have been educated to at least school certificate level or its equivalent.
According to him, the constitutional provision focuses on the required level of education rather than mandating a particular certificate as the only acceptable proof.
He urged opposition parties to concentrate more on Tinubu’s administration, policies and record in office instead of repeatedly questioning his academic background.
“The narrative around his certificate, in my opinion, is distracting,” Ndume said.
He also maintained that Tinubu’s eligibility had previously been subjected to legal scrutiny following the 2023 presidential election, arguing that the issue should not dominate political discussions ahead of the 2027 polls.
The controversy resurfaced after INEC published information on the academic qualifications submitted by presidential candidates and their running mates for the forthcoming election.
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