posted 22nd May 2025
Tinubu’s Academic Credentials Under Scrutiny Ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 Presidential Elections
LAGOS, 22 May 2025 — As Nigeria gears up for the 2027 presidential elections, the controversy surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic certificates and educational history continues to cast a shadow over his political career. Allegations that Tinubu lacks genuine certificates from primary school to university level have resurfaced, prompting widespread speculation about the credentials he will present to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for verification ahead of the next polls.
The issue first gained prominence during the 2023 presidential election cycle when Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared the winner by INEC despite concerns raised by opposition parties and observers. Critics, including Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), challenged the results, citing electoral irregularities and questions over Tinubu’s eligibility due to alleged discrepancies in his academic records.
In an affidavit submitted to INEC in 2022, Tinubu claimed that his primary and secondary school certificates were stolen by “unknown persons” during his self-imposed exile from 1994 to 1999, a period when he fled Nigeria to evade persecution under the military regime of General Sani Abacha. He further stated that he attended the University of Chicago between 1972 and 1976, earning a B.Sc. in Economics, as well as a B.Sc. in Business and Administration and a certificate in Public Accounting. However, these claims have been met with scepticism, with some alleging inconsistencies with earlier submissions made during his 1999 Lagos State governorship campaign.
A significant point of contention has been Tinubu’s submission of a Chicago State University (CSU) certificate to INEC, which opposition lawyers argued was forged. In a 2023 deposition, CSU registrar Caleb Westberg confirmed that Tinubu attended the institution between 1977 and 1979 but noted that the university could neither authenticate nor disavow the certificate presented to INEC. This revelation fuelled public debate, with social media posts on X accusing Tinubu of submitting fraudulent documents. One user remarked, “Tinubu submitted a forged Chicago State University certificate to INEC. Just a reminder to Nigerians that your president is a criminal.”
Despite these allegations, Nigeria’s Supreme Court in October 2023 dismissed appeals by Abubakar and Obi, upholding Tinubu’s victory. The court ruled that new evidence, such as the CSU deposition, could not be admitted after the initial tribunal decision and that the opposition failed to prove electoral malpractice or ineligibility. Legal experts noted that Nigerian law requires only a school leaving certificate—equivalent to a high school diploma—for presidential candidates, a requirement Tinubu reportedly did not fulfil.
Public sentiment remains divided. While Tinubu’s supporters, including his campaign’s legal director Babatunde Ogala, dismiss the controversy as “idle, silly talks” and a distraction, critics argue that the lack of transparency undermines public trust. Social media discussions have been particularly heated, with some users questioning how Tinubu could have attended university without primary or secondary education. One X post sarcastically remarked, “The God that made Tinubu attend Chicago State University, get a first-class degree and work in Exxon Mobil without attending primary and secondary schools, do that miracle in my life today.”
As the 2027 elections approach, all eyes are on Tinubu and the APC to see how they will address these lingering questions. Political analyst Martin Obono, speaking to Al Jazeera, predicted that opposition candidates like Abubakar and Obi are likely to challenge Tinubu again, potentially reigniting the certificate debate. “The opposition will need to present a stronger case, not just on technicalities but on substantive evidence of electoral or eligibility violations,” Obono said.
For now, Tinubu has hailed past court rulings as a “victory” and vowed to focus on governance amid Nigeria’s worsening economic challenges, including a plummeting naira and soaring fuel prices. However, the unresolved questions about his academic credentials continue to fuel speculation and distrust, both domestically and internationally.
With INEC’s verification process for the 2027 elections on the horizon, Nigerians and the global community await clarity on the schools and certificates Tinubu will present. Whether he can put these allegations to rest remains to be seen, but the controversy is unlikely to fade quietly.
