Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has raised fresh questions over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic credentials following the publication of nomination documents for the 2027 presidential election.
Sowore alleged discrepancies between documents associated with Tinubu’s educational history, particularly concerning the President’s university certificate and earlier records.
The AAC candidate’s comments came after INEC published a preliminary list of presidential candidates and documents ahead of the 2027 election.
Sowore raises questions over credentials
Sowore reportedly questioned the educational information submitted by Tinubu and referred to differences between the certificate presented by the President and a document he said was submitted in 1999.
He also raised questions over the absence of primary and secondary school qualifications in the recently published INEC documents.
The issue follows renewed public scrutiny of Tinubu’s educational history after INEC’s publication of the nomination documents.
Reports on the INEC documents indicate that Tinubu listed a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, obtained in 1979, while the primary and secondary school sections of the relevant form were left blank.
Tinubu’s educational history under scrutiny
The latest controversy has revived a long-running political debate about the President’s academic credentials.
Sowore has used the development to challenge Tinubu and question the consistency of the records associated with his educational background.
However, allegations of discrepancies should be distinguished from established findings. The publication of the documents itself does not amount to a determination that any credential submitted by a candidate is fraudulent.
INEC’s role in publishing nomination documents is part of the electoral process, while questions concerning the authenticity or legality of specific credentials would require appropriate verification and, where applicable, formal proceedings.
The issue is likely to remain politically significant as the 2027 presidential election approaches.