Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has called on President Bola Tinubu to enrol in an adult education programme, raising concerns over the academic credentials the president submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2027 general election.
Sowore made the remarks on Monday after proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he faulted the absence of details relating to Tinubu’s primary and secondary education in the documents filed with INEC.
According to him, the president’s educational records have been inconsistent over the years, alleging that Tinubu previously submitted a certificate linked to the University of Chicago before later presenting one from Chicago State University.
“The presidential candidate of the APC did not go to primary school. He did not go to secondary school. He only presented one paper from Chicago State University, which was different from the paper he presented in 1999, which was University of Chicago,” Sowore said.
“Now he has downgraded it to Chicago State University. You get my point. And we are advising him here, it’s not too late to take advantage of adult education.”
The human rights activist further suggested that Tinubu should pursue primary and secondary education through online learning before seeking elective office again.
“Let him go back to primary school, secondary school online. He had a minister in this country who, after she was appointed as a minister, went and did NYSC. So, there’s no big deal,” he said.
“But in going back to school, he should let people that are serious contest for the presidency,” Sowore added.
Beyond the issue of academic qualifications, Sowore also urged Nigerians to reflect on what he described as the country’s worsening situation under the current administration.
“But on a serious note, we are asking Nigerians to understand the precariousness of their condition and situation. These guys have come to destroy your country and we are the only ones standing between them and the final evisceration of Nigerian people,” he said.
On Saturday, INEC published the personal particulars and academic credentials submitted by presidential candidates contesting the 2027 general election, including those of President Tinubu. The publication was carried out in accordance with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which mandates the electoral body to display the credentials, affidavits and personal particulars of candidates sponsored by political parties within 21 days of receiving their nominations.
Among the documents contained in Tinubu’s Form EC9 was a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University in the United States. His academic transcript showed that the degree was awarded “with honours” on June 22, 1979.
The president also submitted his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, indicating that he served in Oyo State between December 1982 and November 1983.
The nomination documents further stated that Tinubu worked with Mobil Nigeria Limited from 1983 to 1992 before leaving the company for “advancement.” They also outlined his tenure as Governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, noting that it ended with the “legal end of tenure,” before listing his current service with the Federal Government from 2023 to date.
However, the form recorded “0000” as the years of attendance for both his primary and secondary education, while only his university qualification included specific dates, showing that it was obtained in 1979.
Sowore’s latest comments are the latest in a series of criticisms he has directed at President Tinubu’s academic records, an issue that has remained a recurring subject of political debate since the 2023 presidential election. The Presidency has consistently maintained that Tinubu’s educational qualifications meet the constitutional requirements for the office of president.
