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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Ndume tells opposition to judge Tinubu on performance, not certificates

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Senator Ali Ndume urged opposition parties to focus on President Bola Tinubu's performance rather than his academic certificates.
  • Ndume stated that Tinubu meets the constitutional minimum educational requirement and that court rulings have settled qualification disputes.
  • He called for elevated political discourse, emphasizing ideas over personal matters as the 2027 elections approach.

Senator Ali Ndume has called on opposition parties to shift their focus from President Bola Tinubu's academic certificates to his performance, as political activities for the 2027 general elections intensify.

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?

— Ali NdumeUrging opposition parties to focus on policy and performance rather than certificates.

Ndume, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, described the renewed attention on Tinubu's credentials as a distraction. He argued that opposition candidates should instead present their alternative economic policies and outline how they can govern better than the current administration. "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 stated.

The senator's remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of Tinubu's educational qualifications, particularly after checks revealed blank entries for primary and secondary education on his EC9 form. While Tinubu provided a B.Sc. in Business Administration from Chicago State University and attached his degree and NYSC certificates, the earlier educational details were absent. Ndume, however, asserted that Tinubu has met the constitutional minimum educational requirement, citing Section 131(d) of the 1999 Constitution, which requires education up 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.

— Ali NdumeCiting constitutional requirements for presidential candidates.

Furthermore, Ndume pointed out that the issue of Tinubu's qualifications has already been adjudicated by the courts following the 2023 presidential election. He urged opposition parties to elevate the political debate as the 2027 elections draw nearer, quoting Eleanor Roosevelt: "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people."

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.

— Ali NdumeQuoting Eleanor Roosevelt to advocate for higher-level political debate.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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