Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the educational information contained in his nomination documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 presidential election.
Melaye mocked the President over the absence of primary and secondary school details in the information recently published by INEC, sarcastically describing Tinubu as an exceptionally intelligent person who allegedly proceeded to university without attending primary and secondary school.
He made the remarks in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while calling on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to become more active in questioning issues of public interest and holding political leaders accountable.
INEC recently published the particulars submitted by Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The published information included details of his university education but did not contain entries for the primary and secondary schools he attended.
The omission has generated debate among Nigerians, particularly over the educational history contained in the President’s electoral records.
Reacting to the issue, Melaye said:
“We must make sure that the leadership of NBA begins to take on issues of common interest across this country. The President of this country filled an INEC form, he’s the most brilliant person on earth. He went to university straight without attending primary and secondary schools. What are we saying about it? What questions are we asking about this?”
The former lawmaker urged lawyers across the country not to leave matters of public interest entirely to the national leadership of the NBA.
He argued that lawyers operating through state branches should also take action on issues within their respective jurisdictions instead of waiting for directives from the national body.
“So every lawyer in this country must make sure that the leadership of this country or the NBA becomes very proactive on all issues and we must not leave everything to the National President and Executive of the NBA.”
Melaye added that NBA branches across the country had a responsibility to respond to issues affecting their communities.
“We have branch chairmen and branches across the states, if things happen within your jurisdiction and your state, you can take affirmative action within your jurisdiction without waiting for the national body.”
He further called on the legal profession to reclaim what he described as its role as a watchdog over government and public institutions.
“NBA must come back to be the watchdog and conscience of this country and the leadership will not do it until every one of us here starts asking questions and holding the leadership accountable.”
Melaye also challenged the incoming leadership of the NBA to continue what he described as the work started by the current national leadership.
The controversy over Tinubu’s educational records has previously featured prominently in Nigerian political and legal debates, particularly around documents submitted by the President during election processes.
However, the absence of primary and secondary school details in the recently published INEC form does not by itself establish that Tinubu never attended those levels of education. Melaye’s remarks were delivered as criticism and sarcasm directed at the information contained in the published electoral document.
The President’s camp has previously maintained that Tinubu possesses the qualifications required to contest the presidency, while disputes concerning his educational history have been addressed through various political and legal proceedings.
The latest comments from Melaye have renewed debate over Tinubu’s educational records, INEC disclosure requirements and the role of the NBA in holding public officials accountable.
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