Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Monday Ubani, has asserted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not constitutionally mandated to provide his primary and secondary school records to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2027 election. Speaking on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ubani addressed the criticism raised by former Senator Dino Melaye, who claimed the President omitted these documents from his nomination filing.
Ubani emphasized that the situation must be viewed through a legal lens rather than through public opinion. Citing Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution, he explained that candidates only need to prove they have achieved an educational standard equivalent to a school certificate. He clarified that the law does not explicitly demand the physical presentation of these documents. Furthermore, Ubani noted that judicial precedents support the view that demonstrating the attainment of an educational level is sufficient without the production of the certificates themselves.
While acknowledging that providing these documents would improve transparency, Ubani maintained that failing to do so does not violate the law. He also pointed out that INEC fulfilled its legal duties by publishing the submitted materials without needing to perform internal verifications. Additionally, the lawyer commented on concerns regarding name variations in the credentials of presidential candidate Peter Obi, noting that such discrepancies require formal documentation to resolve.
