Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s educational credentials following the publication of the President’s nomination documents by the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Melaye raised the issue in a post on social media after reviewing the documents released by INEC as part of the electoral body’s publication of candidates’ particulars.
The former senator claimed that Tinubu’s submission did not contain primary and secondary school certificates, questioning how the President proceeded to university without the educational records he expected to see.
Melaye’s comments have reignited a long-running debate surrounding Tinubu’s educational history, an issue that has featured prominently in Nigerian political discourse.
The documents published by INEC are part of the information being made available to the public ahead of the 2027 general election, allowing Nigerians and interested parties to scrutinise the particulars submitted by candidates.
Tinubu’s educational background has previously attracted intense political and legal scrutiny, particularly around his attendance at Chicago State University and the documents associated with his academic history.
However, Melaye’s latest intervention centres specifically on what he says is absent from the President’s latest INEC submission.
The former lawmaker questioned the omission of primary and secondary school details and challenged the President’s educational record.
His comments are likely to generate renewed political debate as the 2027 election approaches, particularly given the importance attached to candidates’ qualifications and the information contained in their official nomination documents.
The latest development comes at a time when political parties are increasingly positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential contest, with Tinubu expected to seek re-election.
While Melaye has questioned the documents, the specific allegation should be distinguished from any independent determination that the President is not academically qualified to contest the election.
The publication of the INEC documents provides the basis for public scrutiny, while any dispute concerning their contents or the legal implications of what was submitted would ultimately depend on the relevant electoral and legal authorities.
Melaye raises fresh questions
Melaye’s intervention has added another dimension to the political conversation surrounding Tinubu’s credentials.
The former senator has continued to be a vocal critic of the President and his administration, and his latest comments come as opposition politicians intensify their scrutiny of the administration ahead of the 2027 election.
For now, the controversy centres on what was included — and what was not included — in Tinubu’s nomination documents published by INEC.