2027: Tinubu submitted forged certificate to INEC, He is ineligible to contest the 2027 election – ADC claims

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has argued that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is constitutionally unqualified to contest the 2027 presidential election, citing allegations surrounding his educational records and certificates submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The opposition party’s position follows the publication of the President’s nomination documents by INEC, in which the sections for his primary and secondary school qualifications were reportedly left blank, while his Bachelor of Science degree from Chicago State University was listed.

Speaking on Politics Today, ADC chieftain and legal practitioner, Kalu Kalu, alleged that Tinubu’s previous submissions to INEC contained forged educational credentials, insisting that such an action, if established, would amount to constitutional disqualification.

According to him, Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution bars any person who has presented a forged certificate to INEC from contesting for the office of President.

Kalu further alleged that the schools Tinubu claimed to have attended at the primary and secondary levels either did not exist at the time or were wrongly represented.

He also referred to the legal battle initiated in the United States by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar following the 2023 presidential election, which led to the release of Tinubu’s academic records by Chicago State University.

According to the ADC chieftain, documents released during the court proceedings allegedly revealed inconsistencies relating to the President’s educational history.

He claimed that Tinubu listed Government College, Lagos, as one of the institutions he attended, alleging that the school was not in existence during the period stated.

Kalu also questioned the authenticity of documents allegedly submitted to Chicago State University during Tinubu’s admission process, arguing that the issues surrounding the President’s educational records remain unresolved.

“The Constitution is very clear,” he said, insisting that anyone found to have submitted a forged certificate to INEC is not qualified to seek the office of President.

Addressing whether the matter could still be challenged despite previous court rulings, Kalu acknowledged that the Supreme Court had held that only an aspirant within a political party could challenge another aspirant in pre-election matters.

However, he argued that constitutional provisions take precedence over every other law, maintaining that any allegation of certificate forgery falls within the ambit of the Constitution rather than merely the Electoral Act.

He contended that the supremacy clause contained in Section 1(1) of the Constitution makes its provisions binding on all persons and authorities, including the President.

President Tinubu has consistently maintained that he lawfully obtained his academic qualifications.

The Supreme Court also upheld his election following the 2023 presidential poll after dismissing petitions challenging his victory.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency nor the All Progressives Congress (APC) had issued a fresh response to the ADC’s latest claims.