2027: Tinubu certificate controversy a distraction, says Ndume

All Progressives Congress chieftain, Senator Ali Ndume, has described the ongoing debate over President Bola Tinubu’s academic credentials as a distraction ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Ndume stated this in a statement on Monday, while reacting to renewed questions from opposition parties following the publication of presidential candidates’ academic qualifications by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The senator argued that Tinubu had already satisfied the constitutional requirements to contest for the presidency, dismissing claims that the President’s eligibility should depend solely on the presentation of a secondary school certificate.

Citing Section 131(d) of the 1999 Constitution, Ndume said the law only requires a presidential candidate to be educated up to at least school certificate level or its equivalent, rather than specifying a particular document as the only proof of qualification.

According to him, the provision states that “a person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if he has been educated up to at least school certificate level or its equivalent.”

Ndume urged opposition parties to shift their focus from Tinubu’s academic history to his policies and performance in office, insisting that the President’s eligibility had already been addressed through legal proceedings arising from the 2023 presidential election.

“The narrative around his certificate, in my opinion, is distracting,” he said.

The debate over Tinubu’s academic credentials resurfaced after INEC released details of the qualifications submitted by presidential candidates and their running mates ahead of the 2027 election.