…As Tinubu omits Primary, Secondary school qualifications in EC9
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the public display of the personal particulars and academic credentials of presidential candidates for the 2027 general election, with the nomination documents of President Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, now available for public inspection nationwide.
The exercise, which took off yesterday, is in compliance with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, requiring the Commission to publish the credentials, personal particulars and affidavits submitted by candidates within 21 days of receiving their nomination forms.
A review of President Tinubu’s Form EC9 shows that he listed only a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Business Administration obtained from Chicago State University, United States, in 1979 under the educational qualifications section. The accompanying transcript indicates that the degree was awarded “with honours” on June 22, 1979.
Notably, the sections designated for his primary and secondary school qualifications were left blank, while the years for those levels of education were entered as “0000”. However, Tinubu attached copies of his university degree certificate and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to his nomination papers. The NYSC document shows that the President served in Oyo State from December 1982 and was discharged in November 1983.
Tinubu’s EC9 also states that he was born on March 29, 1952, in Lagos, listed his occupation as “Politician,” and gave his residential address as No. 4, Queen’s Drive, Ikoyi. His employment history shows he worked at Mobil Nigeria Limited from 1983 to 1992 before serving as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. He listed his current employer as the Federal Government of Nigeria from 2023 to date and declared that he had never been dismissed from public service.
In contrast, Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s submitted documents contain a detailed educational history beginning from primary school.
Shettima also submitted records showing he obtained a Second Class Upper Division degree in Agriculture from the University of Maiduguri in August 1989 and later earned a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan. His NYSC certificate indicates he served between October 1989 and October 1990.
INEC explained that Form EC9 contains the credentials, personal particulars and affidavits submitted by candidates sponsored by political parties. The documents are being displayed at INEC offices nationwide, including state and local government offices, where members of the public may inspect them.
Under the Electoral Act, members of the public may apply for certified true copies of nomination forms and supporting documents submitted by candidates and may seek legal redress where allegations of false declaration or forgery arise.
Campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to commence on August 19, while campaigns for governorship and state assembly elections will begin later in accordance with INEC’s revised timetable.
