Former Anambra State Governor and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has accused Nigeria of being a “disgraced country” due to controversies surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s academic credentials. Obi made the remarks during his official declaration for the ADC presidential ticket in Akwa Ibom.
Obi referenced a statement by former U.S. President Donald Trump, claiming that Nigeria’s international image suffered because an individual with an allegedly forged certificate was allowed to assume the presidency. He contrasted this with Indonesia’s strict legal framework, where certificate forgery is punishable by imprisonment.
“I went to Indonesia and asked their election authorities about the qualifications to be president. They said anyone who forges credentials is jailed. Here, they dismiss such matters as pre-election issues,” Obi said.
The former governor was alluding to the lingering controversies over Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate, which have drawn attention from opposition figures such as Atiku Abubakar. Atiku had requested the U.S. court to release Tinubu’s academic records to clarify discrepancies, including the claim that a female student named Bola Tinubu was admitted in the 1970s. Tinubu, however, challenged this move to block the release of his university documents.
The Nigerian Supreme Court later dismissed new evidence related to the certificate allegation, upholding Tinubu’s electoral victory. Despite the ruling, the controversy continues to fuel debate among Nigerians about election integrity and the legal scrutiny of political leaders.
Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, had not responded immediately to requests for comment at the time of reporting. Obi’s remarks are likely to intensify political discourse ahead of the 2027 elections, highlighting the intersection of legality, public perception, and electoral politics in Nigeria.
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