Denge Josef Onoh, head of the Enugu State House of Assembly’s former members group, has criticized public discourse regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s INEC Form EC9 as legally uninformed. Critics have questioned why the President left secondary and primary school sections blank on his form, opting only to provide his Chicago State University degree and NYSC certificate.
Onoh explained that under Section 131(d) of the 1999 Constitution, the minimum requirement for the presidency is a secondary school certificate or its equivalent. He argued that possessing a university degree surpasses this legal threshold, making the submission of earlier certificates unnecessary. According to Onoh, Supreme Court rulings support the position that candidates need not provide an exhaustive chain of academic records if their highest qualification satisfies the law.
Addressing the controversy in Abuja, Onoh stated that submitting a valid higher degree is sufficient evidence of eligibility. He noted that the law prohibits the use of forged documents or false information, but it does not mandate the disclosure of every educational level attained. He characterized the criticism as orchestrated propaganda and urged opposition parties to focus on substantial issues rather than manufactured disputes. Onoh concluded that the President’s credentials have been verified by global institutions and the legal standing of his documentation remains secure.
