..Opposition Questions Afuye’s Qualification
… APC Dismisses Claims As Political Distraction
Daud Olatunji
The All Progressives Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress in Ekiti State have locked horns over the academic qualification of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, following the publication of candidates’ credentials by the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
Documents released by INEC showed that Mrs Afuye submitted a West African Examinations Council certificate, indicating that she sat for the examination in June 1978 at Amoye Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti.
The result recorded credits in Literature in English and Economics, and passes in History and Mathematics.
The disclosure has triggered sharp criticisms from opposition parties, with the PDP and ADC questioning both her suitability for office and, in some cases, the authenticity of the certificate.
In a statement on Sunday, the South-West PDP Publicity Secretary, Sanya Atofarati, described the development as “embarrassing” and a “slap” on Ekiti State, which he said is nationally acclaimed as the fountain of knowledge.
Atofarati said it was disheartening that the ruling APC would field a deputy governor with what he described as a “low-level and unconvincing” academic record in a state known for its intellectual depth and high concentration of scholars.
According to him, Ekiti deserved leaders capable of effectively representing the state in high-level engagements involving academics, technocrats and professionals.
The ADC also faulted the certificate. Its Ekiti State Publicity Secretary, Gboyega Aribisogan, raised what he called unresolved doubts about the deputy governor’s educational background, insisting that the controversy was not new.
Aribisogan recalled that similar concerns were raised in 2022 when Mrs Afuye emerged as the APC’s deputy governorship candidate, alleging that questions surrounding her qualification were discussed even within the ruling party.
He claimed that attempts were previously made to verify whether she completed her education at Amoye Grammar School and whether she genuinely sat for the examination there, adding that the matter could resurface as the state inches closer to another governorship poll.
“As we move closer to the election, these issues are coming up again. They could lead to renewed legal battles that may affect the ambitions of both the governor and the deputy governor,” he warned.
However, the Ekiti APC Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, dismissed the criticisms as baseless and politically motivated, accusing opposition parties of seeking relevance ahead of the June 20 governorship election.
Dipe said the opposition was deliberately sensationalising the deputy governor’s WAEC result to undermine public confidence in the ruling party, insisting that Mrs Afuye met all constitutional requirements to contest for office.
He added that her credentials were properly screened and cleared by the APC’s national leadership, stressing that she had served the state diligently since assuming office.
The APC spokesman urged opposition parties to focus on presenting their programmes and alternatives to Ekiti voters, rather than engaging in what he described as smear campaigns and recycled allegations.
Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that a deputy governorship candidate must meet the same qualifications as a governorship candidate, including possession of at least a school certificate or its equivalent, Nigerian citizenship by birth, membership of a political party and attainment of the age of 35 years.
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