The Independent National Electoral Commission has explained that it only released the credentials submitted by presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.
The clarification followed concerns over the absence of President Bola Tinubu’s primary and secondary school certificates from the documents published by the electoral body.
A senior INEC official, who spoke anonymously, said the commission had no mandate to modify or question the documents submitted by candidates.
The official explained that the publication was intended to give members of the public an opportunity to examine the credentials and raise objections where they considered necessary.
The development comes amid fresh allegations concerning the academic and other credentials submitted by Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.
On Friday, Kalu Agu, a legal practitioner and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, petitioned the European Commission in Brussels over alleged false academic credentials presented by Tinubu to INEC.
Agu also alleged that the President failed to provide details of his primary and secondary education in the documents submitted to the commission.
Meanwhile, ADC presidential candidate and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking Tinubu’s disqualification from the 2027 presidential election over an alleged forged NYSC certificate.
Atiku personally appeared at the court registry to swear to an affidavit supporting the case against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress and INEC.
The suit relies on provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2026 relating to the submission of forged certificates by presidential candidates.
Atiku alleged that the NYSC discharge certificate submitted by Tinubu bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” rather than “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
He and the ADC are asking the court to determine whether the allegation should disqualify Tinubu and the APC from the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku also urged INEC to demonstrate its neutrality by releasing relevant electoral records, insisting that presidential office should not prevent candidates’ credentials from being subjected to constitutional scrutiny.
