The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the personal particulars and academic credentials submitted by presidential candidates for the 2027 general election, officially opening the statutory period for public scrutiny of the documents.
The publication, made available on Saturday, forms part of the nomination papers filed by candidates seeking to contest the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027. It is in accordance with INEC’s revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election.
The commission also released the nomination documents of vice-presidential candidates nominated by the various political parties.
A review of the documents submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu shows that in the educational qualifications section of his EC9 Nomination Form, he listed only his university qualification while leaving the spaces provided for primary and secondary school qualifications blank on the summary page of the form.
Tinubu stated that he obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Business Administration from Chicago State University, United States, in 1979.
As supporting documents, the President attached copies of his university degree certificate and his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.
The nomination papers also indicate that Tinubu declared that he was born on March 29, 1952, in Lagos and listed his occupation as “Politician.”
In the section relating to employment history, he stated that he worked with Mobil Nigeria Limited between 1983 and 1992 before serving as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.
Tinubu further listed his current employment as the Federal Government of Nigeria from 2023 to date and declared that he had never been dismissed from the public service.
The documents submitted by Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), contain a more detailed educational history.
Obi described himself as a “Public Servant” and stated that he was born on July 19, 1961, in Onitsha, Anambra State.
According to the documents, he attended St. Augustine’s Primary School, Anambra, where he completed his primary education in 1973.
He subsequently attended Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha, where he obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1978.
Obi also declared that he earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1984.
The university certificate attached to his nomination papers indicates that he graduated with Second Class Honours (Lower Division).
He additionally attached his NYSC certificate, showing that he completed the mandatory national service between May 1985 and March 1986.
However, the section provided for previous working experience in Obi’s EC9 Form was left blank.
Like Tinubu, Obi declared that he had never been dismissed from the public service.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stated in his nomination documents that he was born on November 25, 1946, in Jada, Adamawa State, and listed his occupation as “Businessman.”
Atiku provided details of his educational qualifications beginning with the First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) obtained in 1954 and the West African School Certificate (WASC) obtained in 1961.
He also listed a Master of Arts (M.A.) in International Relations, which he indicated was obtained in 2020.
In the section on employment history, Atiku stated that he served in the Nigerian Customs Service from 1969 to 1989, leaving through voluntary retirement.
He further listed the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as his place of employment from 1999 to 2007, indicating that he left office after completing two terms as Vice President.
The former vice president likewise declared that he had never been dismissed from the public service.
INEC said the publication of the documents marks the beginning of the period during which members of the public may examine candidates’ personal particulars and supporting credentials.
Under Section 33 of the Electoral Act, any person who believes that information contained in a candidate’s affidavit or supporting documents is false may institute an action in court and present evidence challenging the declaration.
The commission had earlier fixed August 1, 2026, for the publication of presidential candidates’ personal particulars following the conclusion of party primaries and the submission of nomination forms.
The release of the documents has attracted significant public attention because it provides voters, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders with official information supplied by the candidates themselves.
INEC has scheduled the presidential election for January 16, 2027, while campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections are expected to commence later this month in line with the commission’s revised electoral timetable.
The publication is regarded as an important step in the electoral process because it enables public scrutiny of candidates’ qualifications, declarations and supporting documents ahead of the commencement of formal campaigns and the 2027 general election.
