The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the public display of the personal particulars, academic credentials and affidavits of candidates contesting the 2027 presidential election, including those of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The exercise, which began on Saturday, is in compliance with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, requiring the commission to publish the credentials and personal information submitted by candidates within 21 days of receiving their nomination forms.

Documents contained in Form EC9 and displayed at INEC offices nationwide showed that President Tinubu submitted a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, United States, awarded with honours on June 22, 1979.

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The documents also included his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, indicating that he served in Oyo State from December 1982 and completed the programme in November 1983.

Tinubu’s employment history listed Mobil Nigeria Limited, where he worked between 1983 and 1992 before leaving for “advancement,” the Lagos State Government, where he served as governor from 1999 to 2007 until the legal end of his tenure, and the Federal Government, where he has served since 2023.

The President’s Form EC9 listed his date of birth as March 29, 1952, his birthplace as Lagos, residential address as No. 4 Queen’s Drive, Ikoyi, and occupation as politician. However, the years for his primary and secondary school education were entered as “0000,” while only his university qualification obtained in 1979 was indicated.

Vice President Shettima’s documents traced his educational journey from primary school. His Certificate of Primary Education showed he attended Lamisula I Primary School between 1972 and 1978, graduating second in a class of 22 pupils, with English, History and Religious Knowledge among his strongest subjects.

His West African Examinations Council (WAEC) result from Government Secondary School, Potiskum, obtained in June 1983, reflected credits and passes, including distinctions in Religious Knowledge and Economics.

The records further showed that Shettima obtained a Second Class Upper Division degree in Agriculture from the University of Maiduguri in August 1989 before earning a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan. His NYSC discharge certificate indicated he served between October 1989 and October 1990.

INEC explained that Form EC9 contains the credentials, personal particulars and affidavits submitted by candidates sponsored by political parties and has been displayed at its offices across the country, including state and local government offices.

The commission noted that members of the public are entitled to apply for certified true copies of the nomination forms and supporting documents and may seek legal redress where there are allegations of false declarations or forgery.

According to INEC’s revised timetable, campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on August 19, while campaigns for governorship and state assembly elections will begin at a later date.

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