Why INEC Didn’t Publish Tinubu’s Primary, Secondary School Certificates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why President Bola Tinubu’s primary and secondary school certificates were not included among the credentials published for presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.

A senior INEC official, who spoke anonymously to Sunday PUNCH, said the commission only published documents submitted by candidates and had no authority to question or alter the credentials presented to it.

“We only published what was submitted to the commission. We don’t have any authority to question those ones. I mean, our own is just to publish so that anybody who has an objection can raise issues with what we’ve published,” the official said.

INEC Says Public Can Raise Objections

The clarification followed reactions after INEC published the credentials submitted by presidential candidates, with Tinubu’s primary and secondary school certificates absent from the documents released to the public.

The commission’s position is that its role at this stage is to publish the documents submitted by candidates and provide an opportunity for members of the public and interested parties to scrutinise them and raise objections where necessary.

The development comes as political parties and presidential aspirants intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with candidates facing increased scrutiny over their qualifications and eligibility.

The scrutiny comes amid growing political activity ahead of the next presidential contest, with President Tinubu’s 2027 political ambitions already generating significant public and political debate.

ADC Chieftain Petitions European Commission

Meanwhile, Kalu Agu, a legal counsel and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reportedly submitted a petition against Tinubu to the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, on Friday.

Agu alleged that Tinubu submitted false academic credentials to INEC and failed to disclose the primary and secondary schools he attended as part of the requirements for the 2027 presidential election.

A video shared on X by Paul Ibe, a media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, purportedly showed Agu submitting the petition.

Agu called on the European Union to intervene over what he described as an alleged subversion of Nigeria’s constitutional order.

The petition comes as the African Democratic Congress and other opposition political groups continue to position themselves for the 2027 presidential contest.

Allegations Yet to Be Established

The allegations contained in the petition have not been established by a court.

INEC’s explanation also does not amount to a finding on the authenticity or otherwise of any credential submitted by a candidate. The commission said its responsibility in the publication exercise is to make the submitted documents available for public scrutiny.

Any objection to a candidate’s credentials or eligibility would therefore have to be pursued through the appropriate legal and electoral channels.

The issue is expected to remain part of the wider political debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election, particularly as opposition parties and candidates scrutinise the qualifications and records of their rivals.

The controversy also adds to the growing focus on INEC’s preparations and responsibilities ahead of the 2027 elections, including the publication and scrutiny of candidates’ documents.

Scrutiny Intensifies Ahead of 2027

With the 2027 election approaching, questions surrounding candidate eligibility, campaign activities and electoral transparency are expected to remain major issues in Nigeria’s political discourse.

For INEC, the publication of candidates’ credentials provides an avenue for interested parties and members of the public to examine the information submitted and pursue legitimate objections through the appropriate channels.

For political parties and candidates, the development underscores the importance of transparency as the country moves closer to another major electoral contest.

The Bureau Journal will continue to monitor developments surrounding President Tinubu, INEC, the 2027 presidential election and legal challenges involving political candidates.