Former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has urged opposition parties to focus on President Bola Tinubu’s performance rather than his academic qualifications as preparations for the 2027 presidential election intensify.
Ndume, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, made the call in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.
He described the renewed debate over Tinubu’s academic credentials as a distraction from issues affecting Nigerians.
“The narrative around his certificate is distracting. What opposition presidential candidates should be doing is to tell Nigerians what they have to offer. What are their alternative economic policies? What can they do better than President Tinubu?” he said.
Ndume challenged opposition candidates to scrutinise the government’s economic policies and its handling of insecurity.
“They should interrogate his economic policies and how his government has handled insecurity. The President has been in office for over three years now. So why should his certificates be the main talking point?” he asked.
The renewed debate followed concerns over Tinubu’s EC9 form, in which the columns for primary and secondary schools were reportedly left blank.
The President listed a B.Sc. in Business Administration from Chicago State University, obtained in 1979, alongside his degree certificate and NYSC discharge certificate.
Ndume maintained that Tinubu had satisfied the constitutional requirement for presidential qualification.
Quoting Section 131(d) of the 1999 Constitution, he said the law required a candidate to be educated to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.
“The Constitution only sets a minimum educational qualification. It does not say it must be a secondary school certificate,” he said.
He also argued that questions concerning Tinubu’s qualifications had already been addressed by the courts following the 2023 presidential election.
Ndume urged opposition parties to raise the standard of political debate as the 2027 election approaches.
“As we move deeper into campaigns, the opposition should elevate the discourse beyond pettiness,” he said.
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