Tinubu omits primary, secondary school details as INEC releases candidates’ credentials

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made public the personal particulars of candidates seeking election in the 2027 presidential and National Assembly polls, in line with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

The documents, which are now displayed at INEC offices in local government headquarters nationwide, contain information submitted by presidential, vice-presidential and National Assembly candidates. The published particulars include names, gender, residential addresses, educational qualifications and employment history.

INEC had earlier stated that Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires the commission to publish candidates’ personal particulars within 21 days of receiving them from political parties.

Among the leading presidential contenders are President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

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A review of the documents shows notable differences in the educational records submitted by the candidates. President Tinubu listed only his university qualification, stating that he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1979. His submission did not contain details of his primary and secondary education.

The documents, however, included his certificate from Chicago State University (CSU), the same certificate that became the focus of widespread public scrutiny before the 2023 presidential election. At the time, allegations were raised questioning whether the Bola Tinubu who attended the university was Nigeria’s current president. Similarly, in his 2023 INEC submission, Tinubu did not provide details of his primary and secondary education.

Peter Obi, on the other hand, provided details of his educational journey from primary school through university. According to the documents, he attended Augustine’s Primary School in Anambra, completing his primary education in 1973, before proceeding to Christ the King College, where he finished secondary school in 1978.

Obi also attached copies of his primary and secondary school certificates, alongside his degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where he graduated in 1984.

Atiku Abubakar’s submission stated that he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1954 and his West African School Certificate in 1961. However, he did not indicate the names of the schools attended or attach copies of those certificates.

The former vice president, however, included his Master of Arts degree certificate in International Relations, earned in 2020 from Anglia Ruskin University in England.

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The African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, indicated that he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1980, his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate in 1987 and a master’s degree in 2003. His submission did not identify the primary or secondary schools he attended.

Sowore also did not state that he obtained a first degree in the particulars submitted to INEC, although he attached evidence of his master’s degree from Columbia University.