A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alwan Hassan, has argued that academic qualifications alone cannot determine a political leader’s ability to govern Nigeria.
Hassan made the comments while defending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu amid renewed political debate over the educational credentials of presidential contenders ahead of the 2027 election.
He questioned what former President Goodluck Jonathan’s PhD and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi’s academic qualification had achieved for Nigeria, while also referring to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s educational background.
Hassan shifts focus from certificates
The APC loyalist argued that the quality of leadership should be assessed by performance, rather than academic qualifications alone.
Hassan questioned whether Jonathan’s doctorate had translated into measurable improvements for Nigeria and similarly challenged the relevance of Obi’s degree to his political communication.
His comments came amid an increasingly heated debate over the educational records of politicians ahead of 2027.
Tinubu’s credentials under scrutiny
The discussion follows renewed attention on Tinubu’s academic records after the publication of documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Opposition politicians have questioned aspects of the President’s educational history, while his supporters have defended his eligibility and qualifications.
Hassan’s intervention shifts the debate towards whether academic achievements should be treated as a measure of political competence.
2027 political battle
With political parties already positioning themselves for the 2027 election, the issue of candidates’ qualifications is likely to remain part of the campaign conversation.
The debate has increasingly involved the academic credentials of Tinubu, Obi, Atiku and other potential presidential contenders.
Hassan argued that Nigerians should focus less on academic titles and more on the ability of political leaders to deliver effective governance.