2027: Tinubu’s primary, secondary school qualification missing from INEC documents as Obi, Atiku, others submit full credentials

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the personal particulars and academic credentials of presidential candidates for the 2027 general election, revealing differences in the educational information submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar.

The documents, displayed on Saturday in accordance with INEC’s revised timetable for the 2027 general election, form part of the statutory nomination papers submitted by candidates seeking to contest the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

A review of President Tinubu’s Form EC9 shows that he listed only his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Business Administration obtained from Chicago State University, United States, in 1979, under the educational qualifications section.

The spaces provided for primary and secondary school qualifications on the summary page of the form were left blank.

However, the President attached copies of his Bachelor of Science degree certificate and his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate as supporting documents accompanying his nomination papers.

Tinubu stated in the form that he was born on March 29, 1952, in Lagos and identified his occupation as “Politician.”

His employment history shows that he worked at Mobil Nigeria Limited between 1983 and 1992 before serving as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. He also listed his current employment as the Federal Government of Nigeria, where he has served since 2023.

The President further declared that he had never been dismissed from the public service.

In contrast, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, provided a complete educational history from primary school to university.

Obi described himself as a “Public Servant” in his EC9 form and stated that he was born on July 19, 1961, in Onitsha, Anambra State.

According to the documents, he attended St. Augustine’s Primary School, Anambra, where he completed his primary education in 1973, before proceeding to Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha, where he obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1978.

He also declared that he earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1984.

The attached degree certificate shows that he graduated with a Second Class Honours (Lower Division).

Obi equally submitted his NYSC discharge certificate, indicating that he completed his national service between May 1985 and March 1986.

However, the section provided for previous work experience in his EC9 form was left blank.

Like Tinubu, Obi declared that he had never been dismissed from the public service.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, also submitted detailed educational records.

According to his nomination documents, Atiku was born on November 25, 1946, in Jada, Adamawa State, and listed his occupation as “Businessman.”

He declared that he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1954, his West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1961, and a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in International Relations in 2020.

Atiku’s employment history shows that he served in the Nigeria Customs Service between 1969 and 1989 before voluntarily retiring.

He also listed the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as his place of employment from 1999 to 2007 during his tenure as Nigeria’s Vice President.

The former vice president likewise declared that he had never been dismissed from the public service.

The publication of the nomination documents marks the commencement of the statutory period for public scrutiny of candidates’ personal particulars and supporting documents.

Under Section 33 of the Electoral Act 2026, any person who believes that information contained in a candidate’s affidavit or accompanying documents is false may institute legal proceedings with evidence challenging the declaration.

INEC fixed August 1, 2026, for the publication of presidential candidates’ particulars following the conclusion of party primaries and submission of nomination forms.

The commission has scheduled the 2027 presidential election for January 16, 2027, while campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections are expected to commence later this month in line with its approved timetable.