Aug 2, 2026

Sowore Slams Tinubu’s Mysterious Past, Missing School Records Spark Fresh Fury Over Identity

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in politics

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Lagos, Nigeria - August 2, 2026- Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) 2027 presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has launched a blistering attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, questioning the authenticity of the president’s life story, educational background, and personal identity in a widely shared social media post that has reignited one of Nigeria’s most persistent political controversies.

In the post published Sunday, Sowore declared that Tinubu’s “life history, his schooling, his past, his identity is basically that of crimes without repercussion.”

He accused the president of deliberately avoiding filling his Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination form himself and claimed Tinubu possesses “no verifiable pedigree or background, no classmates, no real names, no credible education history,” only what he described as a criminal past that Nigerians have failed to confront.

The post carried the hashtags #TinubuMustGO and #RevolutionNOW.

The sharp criticism comes just days after INEC published the educational and personal details of presidential candidates contesting the 2027 election.

Tinubu’s Form EC9 listed only a 1979 Bachelor of Science degree from Chicago State University and left the sections for primary and secondary education blank.

In contrast, major rivals such as Peter Obi provided detailed records of their early schooling.

The disparity has triggered intense public scrutiny and debate across social media and traditional platforms.

Tinubu’s educational credentials have been a subject of controversy for more than two decades, dating back to his 1999 Lagos governorship bid and resurfacing dramatically during the 2023 presidential election.

Chicago State University has repeatedly confirmed that a Bola A. Tinubu attended the institution between 1977 and 1979 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in accounting.

However, questions about missing primary and secondary school records, discrepancies in personal details, and the handling of certificates have lingered, fueling skepticism among critics.

Sowore, a long-time government critic and founder of the Sahara Reporters platform, has positioned himself as a radical alternative in the 2027 race.

He secured the AAC presidential ticket unopposed in May 2026 and has continued his “RevolutionNOW” advocacy while facing multiple legal battles, including charges related to earlier social media posts about the president.

His latest remarks reflect a broader opposition strategy of highlighting transparency and accountability issues ahead of the next general election.

Supporters of the president have dismissed the attacks as recycled opposition tactics aimed at distracting from governance achievements.

They argue that Chicago State University’s confirmation of Tinubu’s graduation settles the academic question and that the focus on early schooling records is politically motivated.

Critics, however, insist that full transparency on a presidential candidate’s entire educational and personal history is essential for public trust, especially when forms are submitted under oath.

The episode underscores the enduring sensitivity surrounding personal legitimacy in Nigerian politics.

As the 2027 campaign intensifies, questions about identity, documentation, and the standards of disclosure required of those seeking the highest office are likely to remain front and centre, testing both the resilience of the incumbent and the effectiveness of opposition messaging.