The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced the public display of the personal particulars, academic qualifications and other credentials submitted by candidates contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The Punch reported that the exercise, which began on Saturday, includes documents filed by President Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and his running mate, Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Copies of Tinubu’s Form EC9 obtained by our correspondent showed that he submitted a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, United States.
His academic transcript indicated that the degree was awarded “with honours” on June 22, 1979.
Also attached to the President’s nomination documents were his National Youth Service Corps discharge papers, showing that he served in Oyo State from December 1982 before completing the programme in November 1983.
According to the employment history contained in the form, Tinubu worked at Mobil Nigeria Limited between 1983 and 1992, leaving the company due to “advancement.” He later served as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 until the “legal end of tenure,” and has been in the service of the Federal Government since assuming office in 2023.
The form, however, listed “0000” as the years of attendance for both his primary and secondary education, while only his university qualification obtained in 1979 was specified.
His personal details on the form stated that he was born on March 29, 1952, is 74 years old, hails from Lagos, resides at No. 4, Queen’s Drive, Ikoyi, and identified his occupation as “politician.”
Shettima’s submitted documents, on the other hand, contained records of his educational journey from primary school.
His Certificate of Primary Education, issued by the Ministry of Education of the former North-Eastern State, showed that he attended Lamisula I Primary School from 1972 to 1978.
The record indicated that he graduated second in a class of 22 pupils, with English, History and Religious Knowledge emerging as his strongest subjects.
His West African Examinations Council certificate from Government Secondary School, Potiskum, obtained in June 1983, reflected six credits and passes, including distinctions in Religious Knowledge and Economics.
The Vice President’s academic records further showed that he earned a Second Class Upper Division degree in Agriculture from the University of Maiduguri in August 1989 before proceeding to the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics.
His NYSC discharge certificate also confirmed that he completed national service between October 1989 and October 1990.
INEC said the publication of the documents forms part of the statutory requirements under Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which mandates the commission to display candidates’ particulars within 21 days after receiving their nomination documents.
In a statement, the commission explained Form EC9 contains the credentials, personal particulars and affidavits submitted by candidates.
“Form EC9 contains the credentials, personal particulars and affidavits submitted by candidates sponsored by political parties,” INEC stated.
The documents have been displayed at INEC offices across the country, including the commission’s Lagos State office in Sabo-Yaba and Local Government Area offices in the affected constituencies.
Under the Electoral Act, members of the public are entitled to request certified true copies of candidates’ nomination forms and supporting documents from the commission.
The law also provides room for legal action where allegations of false declaration or forgery arise.
Meanwhile, electioneering for the presidential and National Assembly polls is expected to commence on August 19, while campaigns for governorship and state assembly elections will begin later in line with INEC’s revised election timetable.
