Reactions as INEC Publish Academic Records of Obi, Atiku, Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi were among 19 politicians on the tentative list of presidential candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of next year’s election.

Published alongside the politicians’ names were their running mates and personal documents, allowing the public to scrutinise the nominees.

Tinubu was nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Obi by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Also on the list are Sandy Onor (PDP), Omoyele Sowore (AAC), Donald Duke (PRP), and candidates from parties including the NDP, YPP, AA, Boot Party, DLA, ZLP, LP, NRM, ADP, NNPP, SDP, APM and APP.

Running mates on the list include Kashim Shettima (APC), former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi (ADC), and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (NDC), along with vice-presidential nominees from the remaining parties.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, nominated by the Tanimu Turaki faction of the PDP, did not make the list, nor did Gbenga Olawepo Hashim, who had described himself as the Accord Party’s candidate.

The Accord Party said it had no presidential candidate because none of its members met the nomination deadline.

Candidates’ Academic Records Draw Public Scrutiny

The names and documents, including academic certificates, NYSC certificates, sworn affidavits and work histories, have been uploaded to INEC’s candidates’ nomination portal and displayed at INEC offices nationwide.

Tinubu submitted a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University in the United States, listing March 29, 1952 as his date of birth and Lagos as his place of birth.

He named Mobil Nigeria Limited as his employer between 1983 and 1992, before serving as Lagos State governor from 1999 to 2007.

Atiku submitted a master’s degree in International Relations from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK, and said he served in the Nigerian Customs Service until resigning in 1989.

Obi listed a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, obtained in 1984, after completing his WASCE at Christ the King College, Onitsha, in 1978.

The public display follows Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires publication of candidates’ personal details within 21 days of submission, opening the process to claims and objections from the public.

INEC’s Administrative Secretary in the FCT, Bimbo Oladunjoye, described the display as important for transparency and public confidence in the electoral process, encouraging citizens and civil society groups to review the information.

“The Commission is on course with its preparations for the 2027 general elections and will continue to carry out every stage of the electoral process in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2026, and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines,” she said.

The list has drawn commentary from political figures, including AAC candidate Omoyele Sowore, who used social media to question inconsistencies in Tinubu’s submitted academic records.

Arise TV anchor Rufai Oseni separately pointed out that Tinubu’s earlier claim of having worked at an accounting firm was absent from his latest INEC form, and that fields for his primary and secondary schools were left blank.

Parties have until August 22 to resolve issues with submitted candidate lists, with the final list due for publication on September 12, 2026.

PDP Factional Dispute Continues Over Candidate List

Separately, a dispute continues within the PDP over which faction’s candidate list INEC should recognise.

National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led faction, Ini Ememabong, told another online media, The Nation, that they had anticipated their candidates would not appear on INEC’s published list.

However, PDP National Publicity Secretary Jungudo Mohammed Haruna, representing the faction loyal to FCT Minister Wike, told the same outlet that the Turaki group was fighting a losing battle, since the Mohammed Abdulrahman-led PDP National Working Committee had already uploaded its official list to INEC.

“Whatever documents anyone submits to any organisation, particularly government agencies, that organisation is bound to receive such documents provided it is addressed properly. Acting on the said documents or its contents is what is paramount,” Jungudo said.

PDP Board of Trustees member Teejay Yusuf said it was unrealistic for the Turaki group to expect that mere acknowledgment of its correspondence would carry any legal weight without proper procedure.

Both Jungudo and Yusuf said several party members initially aligned with the Turaki group have since returned to the Wike-backed leadership, which they say holds legitimacy before the courts and INEC.