A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the renewed controversy surrounding his educational records, insisting that the Nigerian Constitution does not require presidential candidates to publicly submit or display their primary and secondary school certificates.

Mumuni was reacting to the publication by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the personal particulars of candidates contesting the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.

The publication sparked debate after President Tinubu, in the documents released by INEC, listed only his Bachelor of Science degree obtained in 1979 without providing details of his primary and secondary education.

The omission triggered criticism from opposition parties and some social media users, who questioned how the President obtained admission into a university in the United States without indicating his earlier educational background in the documents published by the electoral commission.

However, in a statement issued on Thursday by his media aide, Rasheed Abubakar, Mumuni urged Nigerians to be guided by the provisions of the Constitution rather than public assumptions or political sentiments.

According to him, the constitutional and legal requirements for presidential candidates are clearly contained in the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Electoral Act.

He maintained that while the Constitution prescribes a minimum educational qualification for anyone seeking the office of President, it does not expressly require candidates to publicly submit or display their primary or secondary school certificates.

“The Constitution requires only that a candidate possesses the prescribed educational qualification. It does not mandate the public submission or display of primary or secondary school certificates,” Mumuni said.

The APC stalwart explained that although political parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission may require candidates to submit educational credentials during the nomination process, such submissions do not amount to a constitutional obligation to publicly display every educational certificate.

He noted that verification of educational credentials has become a recurring issue during election cycles but stressed that no existing law requires presidential candidates to publicly produce or prove their primary and secondary school certificates before they can qualify to contest elections.

Mumuni said the relevant constitutional provision is Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the qualifications for the office of President without specifically requiring the public presentation of primary or secondary school certificates.

According to him, the controversy over Tinubu’s educational records stems from a misunderstanding of the distinction between constitutional eligibility and public expectations regarding educational documentation.

He urged Nigerians to focus on the constitutional requirements for qualification rather than engage in debates driven by political emotions or narratives on social media.

Mumuni added that discussions on the qualifications of public office holders should always be anchored on the provisions of the law, stressing that constitutional compliance, not public perception, remains the ultimate test of eligibility for elective office.