President Tinubu Don’t Need To Presence Primary And Secondary School Certificate – Monday Ubani
President Bola Tinubu was not constitutionally required to submit his primary and secondary school certificates to INEC and the omission does not invalidate his nomination, says Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Monday Ubani.
Ubani spoke Wednesday on Frontline, a programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, amid debate over Tinubu’s credentials after former Senator Dino Melaye alleged the President did not submit primary and secondary school certificates among his nomination documents for 2027.
He said Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) only requires a presidential candidate to show attainment of education up to school certificate level or its equivalent.
“There is no legal compulsion that a candidate must disclose or produce his certificate. It is only a moral issue,” Ubani said, adding that courts have interpreted the provision to mean evidence of attaining the required level is sufficient.
He noted that where a candidate presents a university degree, there is a presumption he passed through earlier stages of education unless credible evidence proves otherwise. While it raises transparency concerns, it is not a constitutional breach.
On INEC’s role, Ubani said the commission is not empowered under the Electoral Act to authenticate candidates’ credentials before publishing them. Its duty is to publish particulars, while anyone who believes information is false should seek legal redress.
He also commented on alleged variations in names on academic credentials of Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, saying differences do not automatically indicate wrongdoing but must be explained with legal documents backing any change.
