The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the statutory publication of the personal particulars, academic qualifications and supporting documents submitted by candidates contesting the 2027 general election, marking the beginning of the public verification process required under the Electoral Act.
Among the first documents placed on public display are those of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and his running mate, Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The publication, which began on Saturday at INEC offices across the country, enables Nigerians to examine the credentials and declarations made by candidates and, where necessary, challenge any information believed to be false through the legal process provided by law.
Documents contained in President Tinubu’s Form EC9 indicate that he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University in the United States. His academic transcript shows that the degree was awarded “with honours” on June 22, 1979.
The documents also include his National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate, indicating that he served in Oyo State between December 1982 and November 1983.
According to the employment history submitted to the commission, Tinubu worked with Mobil Nigeria Limited from 1983 until 1992 before leaving the company on account of “advancement.”
His record further shows that he served as Governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007 until the “legal end of tenure,” while his current employment is listed as the Federal Government of Nigeria, where he has served since 2023.
The personal particulars filed with INEC list his date of birth as March 29, 1952, his place of birth as Lagos, his residential address as No. 4 Queen’s Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos, and his occupation as “politician.”
The form also indicates “0000” in the spaces provided for the years of attendance at his primary and secondary schools, while only his university qualification obtained in 1979 was specifically entered.
For Vice President Kashim Shettima, the documents provide a detailed academic history beginning from his primary education.
His Certificate of Primary Education, issued by the Ministry of Education of the former North-Eastern State, shows that he attended Lamisula I Primary School between 1972 and 1978, where he graduated second in a class of 22 pupils. English, History and Religious Knowledge were listed among his strongest subjects.
The documents also contain his West African Examinations Council result obtained at Government Secondary School, Potiskum, in June 1983, reflecting six credits and passes, including distinctions in Religious Knowledge and Economics.
Shettima subsequently 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 National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate shows that he completed the mandatory one-year national service between October 1989 and October 1990.
INEC explained that the publication forms part of the legal requirements governing candidate nominations under the Electoral Act.
The commission stated: “Form EC9 contains the credentials, personal particulars and affidavits submitted by candidates sponsored by political parties.”
The commission displayed the nomination documents at its offices nationwide, including the Lagos State headquarters in Sabo-Yaba and Local Government Area offices covering the respective constituencies.
Under Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, INEC is required to publish the personal particulars and credentials submitted by candidates within 21 days of receiving their nomination forms.
The law also grants members of the public the right to inspect the documents, obtain certified true copies where necessary and institute legal proceedings if there are allegations of false declarations, forgery or other irregularities in the information supplied by any candidate.
The publication of the nomination documents comes as political activities intensify ahead of the commencement of official campaigns.
According to the commission’s revised election timetable, campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to begin on August 19, while campaigns for governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will commence at a later date in accordance with the approved electoral calendar.
(Ripples)