Former Senate Leader and APC chieftain, Senator Ali Ndume, has challenged opposition parties to shift their attention from President Bola Tinubu’s academic credentials and concentrate on the performance of his administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ndume made the call in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, arguing that the renewed debate over Tinubu’s certificates risks distracting Nigerians from more important issues surrounding governance and the country’s future.
According to him, opposition presidential candidates should present clear alternatives to the policies of the Tinubu administration instead of making the President’s academic qualifications the centre of their campaigns.
Ndume asked opposition parties to scrutinise the government’s economic policies, approach to insecurity and overall performance since Tinubu assumed office.
He said Nigerians deserve to know what opposition candidates would do differently and how their proposed policies would improve the country.
The APC lawmaker also defended Tinubu’s constitutional qualification to contest for the presidency, citing Section 131(d) of the 1999 Constitution, which requires a presidential candidate to be educated to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.
Ndume maintained that the Constitution does not expressly require a presidential candidate to possess a secondary school certificate, arguing that Tinubu had satisfied the minimum educational requirement.
His comments come amid renewed scrutiny of Tinubu’s EC9 nomination form, where the sections for primary and secondary education were reportedly left blank, while his Bachelor of Science degree from Chicago State University was listed.
Ndume also pointed to previous legal proceedings arising from the 2023 presidential election, saying questions concerning Tinubu’s qualification had already been addressed by the courts.
With political activities gradually intensifying ahead of the 2027 election, Ndume urged opposition parties to focus their campaigns on ideas, policies and solutions rather than personalities.
He challenged presidential contenders to explain how they would tackle Nigeria’s economic difficulties, insecurity and other pressing national challenges if elected.
The former Senate Leader said a serious electoral contest should give Nigerians the opportunity to compare competing visions for the country rather than revolve around issues he described as distractions.
