A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has argued that President Bola Tinubu’s failure to submit his primary and secondary school certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) raises legal questions about his qualification to contest the 2027 presidential election.
According to Okonkwo, Nigerian laws governing admission into universities require candidates to possess at least five O’Level credit passes. He maintained that compliance with these legal requirements should also be reflected in the documentation presented by anyone seeking the nation’s highest office.
His remarks followed the publication of the credentials of all presidential candidates by INEC, where President Tinubu reportedly submitted only his university certificate, while no primary or secondary school certificates were listed. The development has sparked renewed public debate over the President’s educational records.
In a post shared on X, Okonkwo stated that Nigeria’s laws must be respected and alleged that presenting only a foreign university certificate, without accompanying secondary school credentials or their equivalent, raises concerns about eligibility for the presidency.
He further criticized the judiciary, claiming that conflicting judicial interpretations have contributed to challenges facing Nigeria’s democracy. Okonkwo alleged that some judges have exceeded their constitutional roles by delivering judgments that, in his view, encroach on the responsibilities of the executive and legislative arms of government.
His comments add to the growing political debate surrounding the 2027 general election and the qualifications of candidates expected to participate in the presidential race.
