Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has reignited the controversy surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s educational records, suggesting that the President can still obtain his missing primary and secondary school qualifications through adult education or online learning programmes.

Sowore made the remarks on Monday while addressing journalists outside the Federal High Court in Abuja after proceedings in his ongoing trial over allegations of cyberbullying President Tinubu.

His comments followed renewed public attention on documents submitted by Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which have been criticised for not containing details of his primary and secondary school certificates.

In the video obtained by SaharaReporters, Sowore said:

“If I have to, I have my master’s, if I have to go for a PhD, I will do like Obasanjo. I will go to the National Open University of Nigeria, where they teach you from house.

“It’s not too late for the guy (Tinubu) to go back to school. Actually, one of his ministers went back and did their NYSC after he became a minister.

“He can still register in any of these online primary and secondary schools. He had the chance to have gone back to school between 2020 and now.

“Tinubu should have gone back to school. He can still register online for primary school and secondary school. So, I don’t see any problem. After all, Adeleke do am for Osun State (Adeleke did it in Osun State).

“There’s an adult education opportunity for him. So that they would fill that primary school section for him.”

The remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of Tinubu’s educational history as political discussions ahead of the 2027 general election continue to gather pace.

The debate resurfaced after attention was drawn to INEC records, where sections relating to the President’s primary and secondary education were left uncompleted, while his Bachelor of Science degree from Chicago State University was listed among his credentials.

The issue has attracted reactions from political stakeholders, including the National Publicity Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Osa Director, who questioned the absence of the President’s basic educational qualifications in the documents filed with the electoral body.

According to Osa:

“It is so disappointing that this is what we are talking about. Again, I believe that we are just raising this question for academic purposes. We don’t know the answer to our question. That is, those certificates are not there. So, it is what it is.”

He further stated:

“Let them tell us why the President’s secondary school and primary school certificates are not there. We all know that you cannot graduate from university without attending basic school.”

He also added:

“They should be able to tell us what happened to them. Because when you fill out forms online and submit, it will reject your submission, saying you have not completed filling in all the necessary information.

“So, I am surprised that this form went through INEC, knowing it was not filled.”

The questions surrounding Tinubu’s educational records date back several election cycles. In his 1999 and 2003 governorship filings, he listed specific primary and secondary schools, including St. Paul’s Children’s Home School and Government College, Ibadan.

However, in later affidavits submitted during subsequent elections, Tinubu explained that he did not provide those certificates because they were among personal documents allegedly lost after his residence was looted during his period of self-exile under the military regime between 1994 and 1998.

The differing information contained in his election documents has continued to generate political debate, with critics arguing that the inconsistencies deserve clarification, while the issue remains part of broader discussions surrounding the President’s academic history. (Guardian)

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