Tinubu Certificate Debate a Distraction, Says Ndume

Former Senate Leader and APC chieftain, Ali Ndume, has urged opposition parties to focus on President Bola Tinubu’s performance rather than his academic certificates as political activities ahead of the 2027 election gather momentum. Ndume, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, described the renewed debate over Tinubu’s credentials as a distraction from issues affecting Nigerians. He challenged opposition presidential candidates to present their alternative economic policies and explain what they would do differently from the Tinubu administration, particularly on the economy and insecurity. Ndume said the President had been in office for more than three years and questioned why his certificates should remain a major campaign issue.

The controversy follows concerns over Tinubu’s EC9 form, where the columns for primary and secondary education were reportedly left blank, while he listed a B.Sc. in Business Administration from Chicago State University, obtained in 1979, alongside his degree and NYSC certificates. Ndume maintained that Tinubu had satisfied the constitutional requirement, citing Section 131(d) of the 1999 Constitution, which requires a presidential candidate to be educated to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent. He also said issues surrounding Tinubu’s qualifications had already been addressed by the courts following the 2023 election. Ndume urged opposition parties to elevate their campaign discourse by focusing on ideas, policies and solutions rather than what he described as petty personal issues

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