ADC Chieftain Claims Tinubu Disqualified Over Certificate Issue

African Democratic Congress chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, has asserted that President Bola Tinubu is disqualified from the presidency, alleging that he failed to submit his primary and secondary school certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The claim revives a longstanding controversy over Tinubu’s academic credentials that has periodically resurfaced in Nigerian political discourse since before the 2023 general election.

Okonkwo’s comments come as opposition figures continue to position themselves ahead of the 2027 election cycle, with certificate related controversies remaining a recurring feature of Nigerian political contests.

The Presidency has previously dismissed similar allegations as baseless, maintaining that Tinubu met all constitutional and INEC requirements for his 2023 candidacy and subsequent election.

INEC has not issued a fresh statement specifically responding to Okonkwo’s latest claim, with the matter unlikely to have direct legal implications for the sitting president’s current term.

Political analysts say such certificate controversies, while attracting media attention, have historically had limited practical effect on Nigerian electoral outcomes once a candidate has been sworn into office.