2027: Ndume Urges Opposition to Focus on Tinubu's Economic Policies, Not His Academic Records

Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

Former Senate Leader and All Progressives Congress chieftain, Senator Ali Ndume, has issued a direct and unflinching challenge to opposition parties, urging them to shift their focus from President Bola Tinubu's academic credentials to his performance in office as the political battle for the 2027 presidential election gathers momentum. Ndume made the call in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, August 24, 2026, dismissing the renewed controversy over the President's educational qualifications as a needless distraction from the real issues confronting the nation. The senator's intervention comes amid heightened political tensions following the Independent National Electoral Commission's publication of the academic qualifications of 19 presidential candidates and their running mates, which once again drew attention to gaps in Tinubu's nomination form.

Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, argued that the back-and-forth over Tinubu's credentials was not only unproductive but also detracted from the substantive debates that should define the 2027 election campaign. In a direct appeal to opposition presidential candidates, he said, "What opposition presidential candidates should be doing is to tell Nigerians what they have to offer. What are their alternative economic policies? What can they do better than President Tinubu?" He urged them to "interrogate his economic policies and how his government has handled insecurity," adding that the President has been in office for over three years, making his certificates an irrelevant talking point.

The controversy over Tinubu's academic records resurfaced after opposition figures scrutinised the EC9 form submitted by the President to INEC, which left the columns for primary and secondary schools blank. Tinubu listed a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, obtained in 1979, and attached his degree certificate and National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate. However, Ndume maintained that the President had fully satisfied the constitutional requirements for contesting the presidency, dismissing claims that his eligibility depended solely on the presentation of a secondary school certificate.

Citing Section 131(d) of the 1999 Constitution, the former Senate Leader stated, "The Constitution only sets a minimum educational qualification. It does not say it must be a secondary school certificate". The section provides that a presidential candidate must be "educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent". Ndume further argued that the issue of Tinubu's qualification had already been settled by the courts following the 2023 presidential election, and that opposition parties should not seek to reopen a matter that had been conclusively resolved through litigation. "Opposition parties should focus on Tinubu's policies and performance as a sitting President rather than his eligibility for the office, which has been settled by litigation arising from the 2023 presidential election," he declared.

The senator's remarks represent a strategic pivot by the ruling party towards a performance-based defence of the administration, moving beyond procedural qualifications to substantive governance metrics as the primary basis for political legitimacy. Ndume urged opposition parties to raise the tone of the campaigns and elevate the discourse beyond what he described as "pettiness". "As we move deeper into campaigns, the opposition should elevate the discourse beyond pettiness," he said, quoting Eleanor Roosevelt: "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people".

The renewed debate over Tinubu's academic credentials is not new. His educational history was a major issue during the 2023 presidential election, when opposition parties and individuals raised questions about his records and the documents associated with his qualifications. The controversy featured prominently in several legal challenges that followed the election, with different courts considering claims relating to his eligibility. The Supreme Court ultimately upheld Tinubu's victory after the Presidential Election Petition Court and other judicial processes had considered various challenges brought by opposition candidates. Despite this, opposition figures have continued to press for transparency regarding his academic records, with some calling for his resignation.

Ndume's intervention comes at a critical juncture, as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum. The senator, who has previously criticised the administration's performance and even threatened to join the opposition coalition, has now positioned himself as a defender of the President's legitimacy. His call for an issues-based campaign reflects a growing recognition within the APC that the opposition's focus on Tinubu's certificates could be used to deflect attention from the administration's record on the economy, insecurity and other pressing challenges. By urging the opposition to scrutinise Tinubu's policies and performance, Ndume is effectively challenging them to present a credible alternative vision for Nigeria's future.

As the 2027 election approaches, the debate over Tinubu's academic credentials is likely to remain a contentious issue, with the opposition seeking to question his eligibility and the ruling party defending his constitutional fitness. However, Ndume's challenge to the opposition to focus on performance rather than paperwork has shifted the terms of the debate, placing the onus on opposition candidates to articulate clear policy alternatives. The former Senate Leader's remarks underscore the high stakes of the 2027 election, where the battle for the soul of Nigeria's democracy will be fought not just on the basis of qualifications, but on the record of governance and the vision for the future. For now, the message from the APC is clear: judge Tinubu on what he has done, not on what his critics say he lacks.

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