A Nigerian civil society organization, the Center for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA), has reignited the debate over President Bola Tinubu’s academic credentials, specifically the Chicago State University certificate he submitted to run in the 2023 election. The group, which advocates for good governance, formally petitioned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, demanding immediate clarification on the authenticity of the document.
In a letter dated June 19, 2026, and received at INEC headquarters in Abuja the same day, the CFRPA urged the electoral body to act swiftly to ensure integrity in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The group emphasized that allowing candidates with questionable backgrounds to participate would undermine democratic standards. The letter, signed by the group’s Head of Legal Unit, Barrister Kalu Agu, warned that failure to address the matter could lead to legal action to compel INEC to disqualify ineligible candidates.
The petition cited discrepancies in Tinubu’s educational history, alleging that he claimed to have attended Government College Lagos from 1960 to 1970, despite the school being established in 1974. Based on this, the group argued that his primary and secondary certificates may be forged, which could affect the validity of his Chicago State University admission. They referenced Section 137(1)(j) and Section 285(14) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, which disqualify candidates who present forged certificates.
The CFRPA recalled that during the 2023 election cycle, a U.S. court order (Case No. 23 CV 05099) compelled Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records to opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar. The group claimed these records revealed false entries, including the alleged forgery of a Cambridge General Certificate of Education from 1970. They also asserted that Tinubu’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate is forged, noting that they have separately written to the NYSC Director General and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation requesting a disclaimer.
The group called on Amupitan, a professor of law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, to leverage his expertise to resolve the lingering controversy. They warned that if INEC does not publicly clarify Tinubu’s eligibility, they will initiate legal proceedings to prevent the commission from accepting his candidacy for the 2027 election. The letter concluded that presenting forged certificates renders a candidate ineligible under the constitution, and INEC has a constitutional duty to regulate political parties and disqualify such individuals.