Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Arewa Consultative Forum, one of Nigeria's most influential socio-cultural organisations, has issued a firm and unambiguous warning to President Bola Tinubu and all politicians eyeing elective offices in the 2027 general elections: your past must be clear, and Nigerians have the right to scrutinise every detail of your educational background, personal history, integrity and public record. The forum's Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Baba, made this declaration on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, while speaking on Arise Television's Morning Show, stressing that the debate over candidates' qualifications should go far beyond the mere presentation of certificates to focus on the credibility, consistency and transparency of their entire life story.
According to Professor Baba, anyone seeking to lead Nigeria must be prepared to answer legitimate questions about their past, arguing that the highest office in the land demands the highest level of accountability. "If you are presenting yourself for election to the highest office in Nigeria, holding lives together, being the Commander-in-Chief, it is legitimate to ask questions," he declared. He emphasised that Nigerians are entitled to know the history of those seeking their votes, adding that leadership requires transparency and accountability. "The certificate is not as important as the story itself. It has to be straight. It has to be consistent. If it is not, there is a problem," Baba said.
The ACF spokesman acknowledged that the 1999 Constitution does not expressly require presidential candidates to provide documentary evidence covering every stage of their educational history. However, he maintained that the absence of such a specific constitutional requirement should not prevent Nigerians from asking questions about the background of candidates. "The law is clear, but I want to move away from focusing just on the qualification," he said. Baba further explained that Nigeria practises a brand of politics that is fundamentally different from countries with rigorous leadership selection processes. He cited China as an example, noting that aspiring leaders there undergo years of scrutiny before reaching top positions. "In China, you cannot just come from nowhere. You start from the very word and you climb. They have a very leadership selection process that you go through many years before you get to that point," he said. "By the time you get to the point of leadership, everything is known about you. Everything is scrutinised".
The ACF spokesman lamented that Nigeria had yet to establish a similarly strong culture of accountability, arguing that political standards were often compromised by the system and, in some cases, by voters themselves. "We are simply flexible in our demands for accountability. There are no standards, and there are no standards because we do not demand standards," he said. He noted that the average Nigerian is ultimately less concerned about certificates than about the impact of governance on daily life. "At the end of the day, what goes into my pocket? How is my family protected? Would my wife go to the hospital and expect service? Would my children receive quality education?" he asked.
However, Professor Baba insisted that the importance of performance should not be used to dismiss questions about a candidate's background. He said voters are entitled to know the records of those seeking to govern them, stressing that honesty, integrity and accountability should remain central to the 2027 electoral debate. "Whoever should lead us should have a clear history devoid of ambiguities, devoid of doubts and so on," he declared. He further argued that candidates should be prepared to address legitimate questions about their education, personal history and public records, regardless of whether the Constitution requires a university degree. "It's not about the results. It's not about certificates. It's about the honesty to present it forward," he said.
The ACF's call for transparency comes amid ongoing debates over the academic credentials of several leading presidential contenders, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi. The forum has previously stated that it has no preferred presidential candidate and will not endorse any political party in the 2027 elections. However, its latest statement signals a determination to hold all candidates accountable and ensure that Nigerians have access to the information they need to make informed choices at the polls. As the 2027 election season gathers momentum, the ACF's demand for transparency is likely to intensify the scrutiny of candidates' backgrounds and put pressure on political actors to open their records to public examination.
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