Tinubu Nomination Papers Spark Debate Over Educational Credentials

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published nomination documents for the 2027 general election, reigniting a controversy over the educational qualifications of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The published EC9 nomination form lists a 1979 Bachelor of Science degree from Chicago State University but leaves the sections for primary and secondary school certificates blank.

Opposition groups, including the National Democratic Coalition, the Obidient Movement Worldwide, the African Democratic Congress, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, questioned how the president accessed higher education without basic certifications. Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress criticized the lack of transparency, suggesting the omissions indicate an attempt to hide information. Some legal experts argue that a secondary school certificate is a constitutional prerequisite for the presidency.

Conversely, representatives from the Labour Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party argued that a university degree satisfies legal minimum requirements. They maintained that previous Supreme Court of Nigeria rulings on the matter should be respected, referring to 2023 litigation where claims of a forged diploma were dismissed. INEC stated that under the Electoral Act 2026, its role is to publish documents for public scrutiny rather than verify their authenticity. President Tinubu is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.