Produce Your School Certificates or Admit the Accusation — Kalu Kalu Tells Tinubu
Abuja, Nigeria – August 6, 2026 — A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and lawyer, Kalu Kalu, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to publicly present his primary and secondary school certificates, arguing that the absence of these records continues to fuel suspicion about the authenticity of his academic credentials.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Kalu said: “If the president says it’s an accusation, let him come out and tell Nigerians, ‘This is my primary school certificate. This is my secondary school certificate.’”
Fresh Questions After INEC Publication
The renewed debate follows the Independent National Electoral Commission’s recent publication of personal particulars and academic credentials submitted by presidential candidates for the 2027 general elections.
In his Form EC9, President Tinubu listed only his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, obtained in 1979. Spaces for primary and secondary school qualifications were left blank.
Kalu alleged that “everything about President Bola Tinubu’s certificate is shrouded in forgery.” He referenced earlier claims that documents submitted to Chicago State University contained false information, including attendance at Government College Lagos with a 1970 graduation date — a school he said was established in 1974.
He also questioned discrepancies involving a Cambridge GCE certificate and variations in names such as “Bola Adekunle Tinubu” on some records.
Historical Context and Previous Affidavits
The controversy is not new. During the 2023 election cycle, similar questions were raised, and Tinubu had previously submitted affidavits stating he attended St. Paul’s Primary School in Ibadan and Government College Ibadan. Critics note inconsistencies between those earlier declarations and the documents currently before INEC.
Supporters of the President, including some legal experts, have argued that the 1999 Constitution only requires evidence of education up to school certificate level or its equivalent and that a university degree satisfies the requirement.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Monday Ubani recently stated that the omission of primary and secondary certificates does not constitute a legal breach, though he acknowledged that greater transparency would have been preferable.
Political Undertones Ahead of 2027
Kalu’s comments form part of a broader opposition push to keep the issue alive as parties prepare for the next presidential contest.
The ADC, which has positioned itself as a major alternative platform, continues to press the matter, while the ruling All Progressives Congress maintains that Tinubu’s university qualification and NYSC certificate meet all constitutional and electoral thresholds.
For many Nigerians, the core question remains one of transparency. In an era of heightened public scrutiny of public officials’ backgrounds, the call for the President to simply produce the early school records continues to resonate.
Whether the challenge prompts any new disclosure remains to be seen. For now, the debate over what is missing from Tinubu’s educational file has once again taken centre stage in the run-up to 2027.
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