An All Progressives Congress APC chieftain, Alwan Hassan, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu amid renewed controversy over his educational credentials, insisting that the Nigerian Constitution does not require a university degree or specific primary and secondary school certificates for anyone to serve as president.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Hassan argued that the Constitution only requires a school certificate or its equivalent, adding that the ability to read and write satisfies the constitutional provision. He dismissed allegations that President Tinubu lacks the qualifications needed to govern Nigeria, describing the renewed criticism as politically motivated rather than legally grounded.
According to Hassan, there is no evidence from Chicago State University CSU suggesting that the academic certificate submitted by Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC was forged. He insisted that critics were attempting to manufacture controversy despite the president meeting the constitutional requirements to hold office.
However, the certificate submitted by Tinubu to INEC remains at the centre of public controversy. During legal proceedings in the United States, officials of Chicago State University confirmed that Tinubu attended the institution and graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree. However, the university also testified that the certificate submitted to INEC did not match the diploma issued by the institution.
According to CSU officials, the document differed from authentic university records in several key respects, including the date appearing on the certificate, the signature, the university seal and the overall design and formatting of the document. Those differences have continued to fuel public debate over the authenticity of the certificate presented to INEC.
Under Nigerian law, the presentation or use of a forged certificate before a public authority constitutes a criminal offence if the document is proven to be forged. Section 137 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria also provides that a person is not qualified for election as President if they have presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission. Whether the certificate submitted by Tinubu amounts to a forged document under Nigerian law remains a matter that can only be determined by a competent court.
Hassan nevertheless maintained that academic certificates alone do not determine leadership ability, competence or performance in public office. He argued that governance should be judged by results, experience and the ability to deliver for citizens rather than by educational credentials alone.
The APC chieftain also urged critics to focus on the achievements of the Tinubu administration instead of what he described as endless debates over academic records. He insisted that President Tinubu has fulfilled every constitutional requirement to occupy Nigeria’s highest office.
The comments come after INEC published the personal particulars of presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 general election. Tinubu’s documents listed his Bachelor of Science degree from Chicago State University and his National Youth Service Corps certificate, while the sections relating to his primary and secondary school qualifications were left blank, reigniting public debate over his educational history.
The issue has once again become a major political talking point as preparations for the 2027 general election gather pace. While APC supporters insist Tinubu has satisfied all constitutional requirements to remain eligible for office, critics continue to question the authenticity of the certificate submitted to INEC and argue that the matter deserves judicial scrutiny.
