The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has provided clarity regarding the absence of President Bola Tinubu's primary and secondary school certificates from the credentials published for the upcoming 2027 presidential election. An official from INEC, who spoke anonymously to Sunday PUNCH, stated that the commission only publishes documents submitted by candidates and does not have the authority to question or verify these documents.

According to the INEC official, the published credentials are intended to allow the public to raise any objections or concerns regarding the documents submitted by candidates. "We don’t have any authority to question those ones. I mean, our own is just to publish so that anybody who has an objection can raise issues with what we’ve published," the official explained.

The clarification comes at a time when President Tinubu is facing increasing scrutiny over his academic qualifications. Kalu Agu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has taken the matter to the European Commission in Brussels, alleging that Tinubu submitted false academic credentials to INEC. Agu's petition calls for the European Union's intervention, claiming that Tinubu's actions represent a subversion of Nigeria's constitutional order.

In a related development, Atiku Abubakar, the ADC's presidential candidate, has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking Tinubu's disqualification from the 2027 presidential race. Atiku's suit, which he personally supported with an affidavit, argues that Tinubu's NYSC discharge certificate contains discrepancies, specifically that it lists the name "Tinubu Bola Adekunle" instead of his full name, "Bola Ahmed Tinubu."

The legal action is grounded in several sections of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulate that any individual presenting a forged certificate is ineligible to contest for the presidency. Atiku and his party are pushing for a thorough examination of Tinubu's qualifications, asserting that all presidential candidates should be held to the same standards as ordinary citizens regarding their educational credentials.

Atiku emphasized the importance of constitutional scrutiny, stating, "The Presidency is not an immunity certificate against constitutional scrutiny." He has also urged INEC to maintain neutrality by providing the necessary electoral records to the court.

As the situation unfolds, the absence of Tinubu's academic documents and the legal challenges surrounding his candidacy are likely to remain focal points in the lead-up to the 2027 election, raising questions about the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria.