Tinubu Should Attend Primary School Online – Sowore Fires APC Candidate Over INEC Records
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has urged President Bola Tinubu to return to school through an adult education programme over the academic credentials the president submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general election.
Sowore made the remarks on Monday after proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja,where he criticised the absence of details of Tinubu’s primary and secondary education in the documents filed with INEC.
He argued that the educational records associated with the president had been inconsistent over the years, alleging that Tinubu initially presented a certificate linked to the University of Chicago before later submitting 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 enrol in online primary and secondary education programmes 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.
Also, Sowore urged Nigerians to recognise what he described as the country’s worsening condition 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 for the 2027 general election, including those filed by President Tinubu.
The publication followed the commencement of the exercise on Saturday in line with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires the electoral body to publish the credentials, affidavits and personal particulars of candidates sponsored by political parties within 21 days of receiving their nominations.
Documents contained in Tinubu’s Form EC9 included a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, United States. His academic transcript indicated that the degree was awarded “with honours” on June 22, 1979.
The president also submitted his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, showing that he served in Oyo State between December 1982 and November 1983.
According to the nomination form, Tinubu worked with Mobil Nigeria Limited from 1983 to 1992, leaving the company for “advancement.” The document also reflected his tenure as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, which 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, obtained in 1979, was accompanied by specific dates.
Sowore’s latest remarks add to his longstanding criticism of President Tinubu’s academic records, an issue that has remained a subject of political debate since the 2023 presidential election. The Presidency has consistently maintained that Tinubu’s educational qualifications satisfy the constitutional requirements for the office of president.
