The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reignited controversy over President Bola Tinubu’s educational qualifications after publishing his nomination papers for the 2027 presidential election, which showed he did not list his primary and secondary school certificates.
The development has triggered fresh political debate, with opposition parties demanding explanations, while others insist the matter was settled by the courts in 2023.
INEC on Saturday published the nomination forms and supporting credentials of presidential and vice-presidential candidates in line with the timetable for the 2027 general election.
A review of Tinubu’s EC9 nomination form showed that the President listed only a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration obtained from Chicago State University.
The spaces provided for primary and secondary school qualifications were left blank.
However, he attached copies of his university degree certificate and NYSC certificate to his nomination papers.
In the form, Tinubu stated that he was born on March 29, 1952, in Lagos and described his occupation as “*Politician*.”
He also declared that he worked at Mobil Nigeria Limited between 1983 and 1992, before serving as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.
His current employer was listed as the *Federal Government of Nigeria from 2023 to date*.
The *National Publicity Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition, Osa Director*, said the question should be directed to the President and his aides.
“Let them tell us why the President’s secondary school and primary school certificates are not there. We all know that you cannot graduate from university without attending basic school,” he said.
He also questioned INEC: “INEC also has a question to answer by accepting that form when the information was incomplete.”
The spokesman for the *Kwankwasiyya Movement, Habibu Muhammed*, described the questions as legitimate.
“The foundation for any academic qualification lies in the primary and secondary schools. We need to have a definite position of the law on the subject matter,” he said.
*National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko*, was more blunt:
“Every Nigerian knows this man is not qualified academically. This is a big issue. Until it is proven that he is qualified, the controversy will continue.”
ADC chieftain *Dino Melaye* also posted on X: “See what Tinubu submitted to INEC, no primary, no secondary school, no Nigerian classmate…”
*Legal Side: Minimum Is SSCE*
The *National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Ken Asogwa*, argued the issue is legal, not emotional.
This matter has been litigated up to the Supreme Court, which threw the case out in the last election,” he said.
“For me, it bothers more on the moral aspect, which has nothing to do with his eligibility at this point.”
National Chairman of the NNPP, Major Agbo, said the Constitution only requires a minimum of SSCE, GCE or equivalent.
“The law states that you should declare anything that is not less than SSCE. And that is exactly what INEC has done. If anybody wants to contest it, approach the courts. Let’s stop dragging our leaders in the court of public opinion,” he stated.
The renewed controversy comes more than three years after questions surrounding the President’s academic records featured prominently in legal challenges that followed the 2023 presidential election.
Those disputes were litigated up to the Supreme Court.
Tinubu, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, is expected to participate in the 2027 presidential election.