The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received a fresh petition calling for a review of issues surrounding the educational qualifications submitted by President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The petition, dated June 19, was submitted by a civil society organisation, the Center for Reform and Public Advocacy, through a consortium of lawyers led by Kalu Agu.
In the petition, the group urged INEC to provide a legal clarification on the authenticity and implications of the academic and service documents submitted by Tinubu in his Form EC9 during the 2023 presidential election.
According to the organisation, the request is part of its mandate as a pro-democracy, human rights, anti-corruption and public interest advocacy group.
“We are a non-profit, pro-democracy, human rights, anti-corruption and public interest advocacy organization in Nigeria. In line with our objectives, we respectfully wish to bring to your notice the fake Chicago State University certificate and forged National Youth Service Corps Discharge Certificate presented to the Commission by President Bola A. Tinubu to aid his qualification for the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria,” the petition stated.
The group claimed that documents obtained during legal proceedings in the United States in 2023 raised questions about information submitted by the President, including details relating to his educational history.
The petitioners requested that the electoral commission review the legal implications of the issues raised before preparations for the next general election gather momentum.
“It is on the basis of the foregoing that we respectfully write to you requesting a legal clarification of the effects of President Bola A. Tinubu’s certificate, obtained by fraud from Chicago State University, and his forged NYSC Discharge Certificate, on President Bola A. Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid,” the petition added.
The organisation further disclosed that it had written to the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, seeking official clarification regarding the NYSC certificate in question.
“It is worthy of note that we have written to the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, requesting that the NYSC issue a disclaimer on the forged NYSC Discharge Certificate that President Bola A. Tinubu is parading as genuine.”
The petitioners urged INEC to address the matter in accordance with constitutional provisions and electoral laws.
“As a Professor of Law and a well-respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, it is imperative that you use your wealth of experience and knowledge to resolve this lingering issue surrounding the ineligibility of President Bola A. Tinubu to contest the 2027 presidential election, considering the legal implications of the above-named forged certificates he submitted to INEC in 2023, in relation to Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), as well as Section 285(14) of the said Constitution, which envisages the power of the Commission to disqualify candidates for election who are ineligible. This is a litmus test for you, to determine how neutral you will be in the conduct of future elections in Nigeria.”
The group also warned that it could seek judicial intervention if the commission fails to make its position known.
“TAKE NOTICE that, in the event you fail to make INEC’s legal position public on this request, we will initiate legal action to stop INEC from receiving and/or accepting the name of President Bola A. Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the APC, as he has no other academic certificate to present to INEC, since President Bola A. Tinubu does not have any primary or secondary school certificates. We are hopeful that you will heed our request and allow wise counsel to prevail in the circumstances.”
The petition further reminded the electoral body of its constitutional responsibilities, arguing that any candidate found to have submitted forged certificates to INEC would be ineligible to contest for the office of President.
The latest petition revives a controversy that attracted significant public attention during and after the 2023 presidential election. However, no court has issued a final ruling disqualifying President Tinubu from office on the basis of the allegations contained in the petition, while the Presidency has consistently defended the authenticity of the President’s credentials.
