Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has urged opposition presidential candidates to focus on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s performance in office rather than his academic credentials ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Ndume said the renewed controversy surrounding Tinubu’s educational records was distracting political parties from issues affecting Nigerians, including the economy, insecurity and governance.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) senator made the remarks in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, urging opposition candidates to present clear policy alternatives instead of making the President’s certificates the centre of their campaigns.
According to Ndume, opposition parties should explain what they would do differently if elected and allow Nigerians to compare their programmes with the performance of the Tinubu administration.
“The narrative around his certificate is distracting. What opposition presidential candidates should be doing is to tell Nigerians what they have to offer. What are their alternative economic policies? What can they do better than President Tinubu?”
Ndume Questions Focus on Tinubu’s Certificates
Ndume challenged opposition politicians to scrutinise the administration’s economic policies and handling of insecurity, arguing that Tinubu has been in office long enough for his performance to be assessed.
“They should interrogate his economic policies and how his government has handled insecurity. The President has been in office for over three years now. So why should his certificates be the main talking point?” he asked.
The senator’s comments come amid renewed debate over Tinubu’s educational records, particularly following scrutiny of the EC9 form submitted by the President.
Tinubu listed a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, which he stated he obtained in 1979, and submitted copies of his degree certificate and NYSC discharge certificate.
Ndume defended the President’s eligibility, arguing that Tinubu had met the minimum educational requirement for presidential candidates under the Nigerian Constitution.
He cited Section 131(d) of the 1999 Constitution, which requires a presidential candidate to be educated to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.
According to Ndume, the provision does not specifically require a presidential candidate to possess a secondary school certificate if an equivalent or higher qualification has been established.
Atiku’s Suit Keeps Certificate Controversy Alive
Despite Ndume’s position, questions surrounding Tinubu’s credentials remain part of the political debate ahead of 2027.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is expected to contest the presidential election under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has instituted legal proceedings against Tinubu over allegations concerning his NYSC discharge certificate.
Atiku and the ADC, alongside the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), are parties to the suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether Tinubu would be eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election if allegations surrounding the certificate are established.
They are relying, among other provisions, on Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution, which deals with the presentation of forged certificates to INEC.
Obi Calls for Candidates’ Credentials to Be Scrutinised
Meanwhile, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), has maintained that all presidential candidates should be prepared to subject their credentials and records to public scrutiny.
Speaking at a press conference in Onitsha, Anambra State, Obi said candidates should be ready to defend their qualifications, previous records and policy proposals.
“Every candidate must be willing to defend their credentials, defend their records, and subject their vision to open scrutiny,” he said.
With political parties intensifying preparations for the 2027 election, the debate over Tinubu’s record, credentials, economic policies and the opposition’s alternative programmes is expected to remain a major feature of the presidential contest.
