… President, Ex-VP Attach Only Higher Institution Certificates
… Obi Provides Full Educational History
Ayomide Awe
The Independent National Electoral Commission has published the personal particulars of candidates vying for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections, with the documents revealing that President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar did not attach their primary and secondary school certificates, unlike former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.
The particulars, which were displayed on Friday at INEC offices across the 774 local government areas, were published in compliance with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates the electoral body to make candidates’ credentials available for public scrutiny within 21 days of receiving them.
The published documents contain candidates’ names, addresses, educational qualifications, occupations, work experience and other personal information, alongside particulars of vice-presidential candidates.
A review of the documents by PLATFORM TIMES showed that the three leading presidential candidates adopted different approaches in presenting their educational credentials.
President Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, listed only his Bachelor of Science degree obtained in 1979 and attached his Chicago State University certificate.
However, he neither stated the names of the primary and secondary schools he attended nor attached certificates from those institutions.
The omission mirrors Tinubu’s submission during the 2023 presidential election, when he also excluded details of his primary and secondary education from the documents submitted to INEC.
Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate was one of the most contentious issues during the 2023 election cycle, following allegations challenging the authenticity of the certificate and the identity of its owner.
The controversy eventually resulted in legal proceedings in the United States before the university released academic records relating to the President.
In contrast, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, provided a comprehensive account of his educational background.
According to the particulars, Obi attended Augustine’s Primary School in Anambra State, where he completed his primary education in 1973, before proceeding to Christ the King College, where he obtained his secondary education in 1978.
He attached copies of both certificates alongside his degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he graduated in 1984.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, indicated in his particulars that he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1954 and his West African School Certificate in 1961.
However, he neither identified the schools where he obtained the certificates nor attached copies of the documents.
Instead, Atiku submitted his Master of Arts degree certificate in International Relations, obtained from Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom in 2020.
Similarly, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, stated that he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1980, the West African Examinations Council certificate in 1987 and a master’s degree in 2003.
Sowore, however, did not disclose the names of the primary and secondary schools he attended and did not indicate possession of a first degree in the particulars submitted to INEC.
He only attached evidence of his master’s degree obtained from Columbia University.
INEC had earlier explained that the publication of candidates’ particulars is a statutory requirement designed to promote transparency in the electoral process and enable Nigerians to examine the credentials of candidates seeking elective offices.
The display also opens a legal window for members of the public who may wish to challenge the authenticity or accuracy of any information supplied by candidates in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
