A civil society organisation, the Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA), has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), seeking clarification over the academic and NYSC certificates associated with President Bola Tinubu.
In separate letters signed by its Head of Legal Unit, Kalu Kalu Agu, the group asked INEC to clarify the legal implications of issues it said emerged from the release of President Tinubu’s academic records by Chicago State University (CSU) following a 2023 order of a United States court.
According to the organisation, the court order arose from an application filed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in a case identified as No. 23 CV 05099 before Judge Nancy L. Maldonado, which directed Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records.
The CFRPA alleged that documents contained in what it described as “Exhibit CSU” revealed discrepancies in information supplied during the admission process, including claims relating to schools attended and educational qualifications.
The group further referenced an earlier letter it sent to the Director-General of the NYSC on September 22, 2025, in which it sought clarification regarding the authenticity of a discharge certificate bearing the name Bola A. Tinubu. It stated that it would consider legal action if its concerns were not addressed.
In its letter to INEC, the organisation requested clarification on how the issues it raised could affect President Tinubu’s eligibility to participate in future elections, particularly the 2027 presidential race.
“It is on the basis of the foregoing that we respectfully write to you requesting for a legal clarification of the effects of President Bola A. Tinubu’s certificate obtained by fraud from Chicago State University and his forged NYSC Discharged Certificate on President Bola A. Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid.
“It is worthy of note that we have written to the Director General of National Youth Service Corps and the Secretary to Government of the Federation requesting the NYSC to issue a disclaimer on the forged NYSC Discharged certificate President Bola A. Tinubu is parading as genuine. Attached are copies of the said letters and are marked as “Exhibit Letters”.
“As a Professor of Law and a well-respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), it is imperative to use your wealth of experience and knowledge to resolve this lingering issue surrounding the ineligibility of President Bola A. Tinubu to contest the 2027 presidential election considering the legal implications of the above-named forged certificates he submitted to INEC in 2023 in relation to Section 137(1)G) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as well as Section 285(14) of the said Constitution which envisages the power of the Commission to disqualify candidates for election who are ineligible.
“This is a litmus test for you to determine how neutral you will be in the conduct of future elections in Nigeria take notice that in the event you fail to make the legal position of INEC public on this request by us, we will initiate a legal action to stop INEC from receiving and/or accepting the name of President Boal A. Tinubu as the Presidential Candidate of the APC as he does not have any other academic certificate to present to INEC since President Bola A. Tinubu does not have any primary and secondary certificates,” the letter reads.
The organisation urged both INEC and the NYSC to publicly clarify their positions on the issues raised, arguing that doing so would help address ongoing public concerns and provide legal certainty ahead of future electoral processes.
Neither INEC nor the NYSC had publicly responded to the latest requests as of the time of filing this report.