The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why the primary and secondary school certificates of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu were not included among the credentials it recently published ahead of the 2027 general election.
The explanation comes amid renewed scrutiny of the President’s academic credentials, with opposition figures and political actors raising questions over documents submitted by presidential candidates to the electoral commission.
INEC recently published the credentials submitted by presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 election, providing members of the public with an opportunity to examine the documents and raise objections where necessary.
However, Tinubu’s published documents did not include certificates relating to his primary and secondary education.
Speaking to The PUNCH, a senior INEC official explained that the commission was not responsible for determining which credentials candidates should submit or investigating why particular documents were absent.
According to the official, INEC’s role was to publish the documents received from the candidates rather than alter, supplement or interrogate the information contained in their submissions.
“We only published what was submitted to the commission. We don’t have any authority to question those ones.”
The official added that the purpose of publishing the credentials was to allow Nigerians to scrutinise the documents and raise any objections through the appropriate channels.
“Our own is just to publish so that anybody who has an objection can raise issues with what we’ve published.”
The explanation effectively places the responsibility for challenging the documents on individuals or groups who believe there are grounds to question a candidate’s eligibility or credentials.
Tinubu faces fresh credential controversy
The issue has gained renewed attention following a petition filed by Kalu Agu, a legal counsel and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), before the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium.
Agu accused President Tinubu of allegedly presenting false academic credentials to INEC as part of the requirements for the 2027 presidential election.
Among the issues raised in the petition was the alleged failure to disclose the primary and secondary schools attended by the President in documents submitted to the electoral commission.
The allegations remain contested and have not been established by a final court judgment.
The controversy has also moved beyond petitions and political statements, with ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar taking the matter to court.
Atiku approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking Tinubu’s disqualification from the 2027 presidential election over an alleged forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.
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The former vice president personally appeared at the court registry in Abuja to depose to an affidavit supporting the suit, which also names the All Progressives Congress (APC) and INEC as defendants.
The allegations surrounding the NYSC certificate are likewise subject to the ongoing legal process.
What INEC’s explanation means
INEC’s latest explanation adds another dimension to an issue that has repeatedly surfaced in Nigeria’s presidential politics: where does the responsibility for verifying candidates’ credentials end and the role of the courts begin?
The commission maintains that it published the documents presented to it and that its constitutional role does not extend to demanding additional credentials simply because some documents were not submitted.
For Tinubu, however, the development comes at a politically sensitive moment, with opposition figures already taking legal and diplomatic steps to challenge aspects of his eligibility for the 2027 presidential contest.
Whether the questions surrounding his academic and NYSC credentials will ultimately affect his candidacy will now depend largely on the outcome of the legal challenges and any formal objections arising from the documents published by INEC.