2027 Polls: INEC Publishes Tinubu, Shettima’s Credentials for Public Scrutiny
2027 Polls: INEC Publishes Tinubu, Shettima’s Credentials for Public Scrutiny
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the nationwide display of the personal particulars, academic qualifications and other nomination documents submitted by candidates for the 2027 general elections, with the credentials of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima now available for public inspection.
The exercise, which began on Saturday, is in compliance with the provisions of Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, requiring the electoral body to publish the credentials, affidavits and personal particulars of candidates sponsored by political parties within 21 days of receiving their nomination forms.
Documents displayed by the commission showed that President Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), submitted a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, United States. According to the academic transcript attached to his Form EC9, the degree was awarded with honours on June 22, 1979.
The documents also included his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, indicating that he served in Oyo State between December 1982 and November 1983.
His employment history, as declared in the nomination form, listed Mobil Nigeria Limited as his employer from 1983 to 1992, after which he joined the Lagos State Government, serving as governor from 1999 to 2007. The form also reflected his current position with the federal government, which commenced in 2023.
The nomination documents listed Tinubu’s date of birth as March 29, 1952, with Lagos identified as his place of birth. His occupation was stated as “politician,” while his residential address was listed as No. 4 Queen’s Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Although the form indicated his primary and secondary school attendance, the years for both were entered as “0000,” while only his university qualification, obtained in 1979, was specified.
Vice President Kashim Shettima’s submitted documents provided a detailed account of his educational journey from primary school through postgraduate studies.
His Certificate of Primary Education, issued by the then Ministry of Education of the North-Eastern State, showed that he attended Lamisula I Primary School between 1972 and 1978, graduating second in a class of 22 pupils. His strongest subjects were listed as English, History and Religious Knowledge.
His West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate, obtained at Government Secondary School, Potiskum, in June 1983, recorded six credits and passes, including distinctions in Religious Knowledge and Economics.
Shettima also submitted records showing that he graduated from the University of Maiduguri in August 1989 with a Second Class Upper Division degree in Agriculture before earning a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan.
His NYSC discharge certificate confirmed that he completed the mandatory national service between October 1989 and October 1990.
INEC, in a statement accompanying the publication, explained that Form EC9 contains the credentials, personal particulars, and sworn affidavits submitted by candidates nominated by political parties.
The commission noted that the documents are being displayed at its offices across the country, including state headquarters and local government area offices, to enable public scrutiny as provided by law.
Under the Electoral Act, members of the public are entitled to apply for certified true copies of candidates’ nomination documents and may institute legal action where there are allegations of false declarations, forgery or other irregularities.
The publication of candidates’ particulars comes ahead of the commencement of electioneering activities, with campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to begin on August 19, while campaigns for governorship and state assembly elections will commence later in accordance with INEC’s revised timetable.
