NewStats: 3,261,917 , 8,175,549 topics. Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 03:27 AM 2d3t19

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has defended the academic qualification of its presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, citing new legal details after the Nigerian Army denied it has copies of Mr. Buhari’s certificates as he earlier claimed.

The Constitution requires a minimum of secondary school certificate or its equivalent for election to the office of the president.

But amid intense debate over Mr. Buhari’s academic suitability, the APC said in any consideration, the former military leader remains very qualified for the election.
The party quoted part IV, Section 318 of the Constitution which interprets “School Certificate level or its equivalent” as follows:

(a) A Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent, Grade II Teacher’s Certificate, the City and GuildsCertificate; or
(b) Education up to Secondary School Certificate Level; or
(c) Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and –
(i) service in the public or private sector in the Federation in any capacity acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for a minimum of ten years, and
(ii) attendance at courses and training in such institutionsas may be acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for periods totalling up to a minimum of oneyear, and
(iii) The ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English language to the satisfaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission, and
(d) Any other qualification acceptable by the Independent National Electoral Commission;

The Army had earlier itted having copies of Mr. Buhari’s certificates. But on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Army, Olajide Laleye, reversed that position.

Mr. Laleye also said there were no records that the army in the 1960s verified Mr. Buhari’s claim to have attained a Senior Secondary Certificate.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, APC accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and President Goodluck Jonathan, of attempting to compromise the army, describing the move as “a dangerous game” thatcoulddestroy the military.

The party urged the military, as a symbol of national unity, to beware of those who may be seeking to use it to achieve selfish and divisive ends.

It said the statement credited to Mr. Laleye, a Brigadier General, that the army is notin possession of Mr. Buhari’s certificates, is in direct conflict with what he said on January 4 on the same issue.

”In an interview with the Punch on Jan. 4th 2015, Brig.-Gen. Olaleye said: ‘Every serving and retired Army officer has at least a copy of his certificates and credentials kept in the Nigerian Army while that same serving and retired officer has copies of those same certificates and credentials’.
”Is Brig.-Gen. Olaleye now saying thathe did not make that statement? If he did, what has happened between then and now to make him to recant? It will be interesting to know what has transpired between then and now,” APC said.
But more worrisome, the party said, is the statementcredited toMr. Laleye that there was no evidence that the certificates of all those who ed the army inthe early 1960s were verified by the selection board.
”Is he now saying that all those who were commissioned into the officer cadres in the 1960s did not have their certificates verified? Does this not confirm what we said that in trying to destroy Gen. Buhari, the PDP and the Jonathan istration will end up destroying the army as an institution? Or is it only Gen. Buhari that was commissioned into the army in the 1960s,” itsaid.

The party also quoted Mr. Buhari as saying in an affidavit on 24/11/2014 that ”All my academic qualifications documents as filled in my presidential form, President APC/001/2015 are currently with the Secretary Military Board as at the time of this affidavit.”
”Those who are behind the latest controversy should now tell Nigerians what happened to Gen. Buhari’s certificates between the time of his affidavit and now,” itsaid.
The party said since Mr. Laleye has now confirmed that Mr. Buhari indeed applied to the Army from form six, that the principal of the school he attended even attested to his suitability, and that the form he filled contained his Secondary School Certificate results, there is no scintilla of doubt about his qualification to run for president as stipulated by the Constitution.
”However, we know that the PDP and the Jonathan istration have constituted themselves into a court of law and will like nothing more than the disqualification of our candidate so they will face no challenge in next month’s election. This is wishful thinking,” it said.
On the contradictions in the statements credited to the Army spokesman, the party said: ”It is true that our once globally-respected military has now been made comatose by the PDP-led Federal Government, but we believe things have not reached the level where the same military will be engaging in actions that amount to self-destruction, justto satisfy some political interests.

”We believe things have not reached a levelwhere we, as a nation, will now be giving the impression that a man who rose to become a Major-General in the Nigerian Army does not have requisite qualifications?

”What really is happening in our country if some politicians have now decided to engage in an action that will amount to dragging the military into politics, dividing an institution that is a symbol of national unity, trivializing the service of those who fought to keep Nigeria one and ridiculing the same country itis supposed tobe ruling?

”We have said it before and will like to repeat: Enough is enough about this distraction orchestrated by the PDP and the Jonathan istration whose electioneering campaign for next month’s polls has suffered a train

www.timesng.com/news/headlines/175336-buhari-qualified-anyways-apc-insists-cites-another-law.html
wreck,” the party said.

If PDP knows that Buhari isn't qualified they would have gone to court. After all what is the judiciary meant for. If he isn't qualified, he would be withdrawn, it is very simple and straight. Silly noisemakers!

They know he's qualified but want to create a distraction which their very daft followers blindly believe.

Now APC has cleared the air, just watch some gullible PDP followers say the constitution is wrong.

Is the certificate available now The laws re just too much in this country...


If he has it... Just show it and end this Mess!!!

Which is why Nigerian youths are just showing off how petty we are.

Section 13 has always been there Na. He is already qualified as a general. Hell, his post as a general outranks a PhD. But will we look at that? Na. We are busy chasing shadows.

Mynd44:
Which is why Nigerian youths are just showing off how petty we are.

Section 13 has always been there Na. He is already qualified as a general. Hell, his post as a general outranks a PhD. But will we look at that? Na. We are busy chasing shadows.

No mind the illiterates calling someone illiterate.

Mynd44:
Which is why Nigerian youths are just showing off how petty we are.

Section 13 has always been there Na. He is already qualified as a general. Hell, his post as a general outranks a PhD. But will we look at that? Na. We are busy chasing shadows.

I still won't be surprised if PDP come here and start spewing their usual rubbish. As clueless as their president.

Meanwhile, here's a piece of advice to the gullible PDP out there.

When you attack, make sure it's something that's legit, with no holes, if you don't want people running circles around your square - thus making you look utterly silly in the process.

Na wa I. This cert issue became bigger than I expected.

CaptainAmerica1:
If PDP knows that Buhari isn't qualified they would have gone to court. After all what is the judiciary meant for. If he isn't qualified, he would be withdrawn, it is very simple and straight. Silly noisemakers!

They know he's qualified but want to create a distraction which their very daft followers blindly believe.

Now APC has cleared the air, just watch some gullible PDP followers say the constitution is wrong.

you have made me to become a chortler.

Them mama

They've started with their animalistic behaviour in Kano by attacking PDP ers killing one person and setting five cars ablaze!

Ok

booked

ok na

Yes he is. Haters gonna hate.

The whole race has gone to the certificate canines....

Nigeria faces serious economic ruin because of the drop in oil prices....and PDP and APC want to talk about certificates and no certificates.

Nigeria is close to being broke....and all PDP an APC can chatter about is certificate and no certificate.

At this rate....we will all be living in rags before both parties begin to think about the important things in life.

C

H


A


N



G






E

n

PDP can continue to try and discredit the General. You are only making him more popular

[size=14pt]Buhari is not qualified.

His wasc is invalid.

He failed maths, a requirement course in
Wasc.

That notwithstanding, the minimum number of courses to in wasc is 7.

Buhari ed only one course and got 5 credits.

He's not even qualified to the Army.

Illiteracy personified. [/size]

I hear u

But really, the drama over this certificate thing is getting too much.

The guy filled WASC in the INEC form he filled. He never said he had a PHD.

Now, he has been able to present the certificate he claimed he had to the public. What's the fuss still about? Honestly, I think this matter should be rested. It's becoming annoyingly boring.

Now that we know that he has the minimum qualification,can we focus on more important issues?

Issues like HOW he will solve the massive youth unemployment and underemployment ravaging this nation in the short term before we all become militants?

Sincerely, I do not see GMB as a man of ideas, but he's surrounded by people I know have crazy ideas as to how to move this country forward.

In fact,let him move Fashola's cabinet to abuja and see the huge leap forward this nation will make.

Dear intelligent Nigerian - Are You Aware?
• That Skye Bank Plc Chairman, Chief Tunde Ayeni
bought Nigeria's moribund M-TEL/NITEL for
$252M?
Are You Aware?
• That Skye Bank Plc Chairman, Chief Tunde Ayeni
bought the Ibadan (PHCN) Disco Distribution?
Are You Aware?
• That Skye Bank Plc Chairman, Chief Tunde Ayeni
bought Mainstreet Bank Plc for # 120B for skyebank
to acquire mainstreet bank?
Are You Aware?
• That Skye Bank Plc Chairman, Chief Tunde Ayeni
donated a whopping N2Billion to President
Goodluck's re-election fund on Saturday 20th
December?
Are You Aware?
• That President Goodluck Jonathan just
after 2 days of receiving # 2B donation from Skye
Bank Plc chairman, has approved increase in tariff
of PHCN?
................... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .....................
It's unfortunate that people who
Jonathan misrule to continue think they are doing
Buhari harm. The only harm being done is to
themselves and every other Nigerian. By 2019, our
country would have been completely sold to the
highest bidder and nothing will be left for us,
honest and hard-working Nigerians if u allow PDP
to continue. !!!.
• If you hate Buhari because he is a Muslim, at
least look at his Vice, he is a Pastor. • If you hate
Buhari because he doesn't have a "Primary Six
certificate", as some ignorants are claiming, look at
his Vice, he is a Professor of Law. • If you fear
that as a formal military leader, Buhari may have
the tendency of not upholding the rule of law, then
look at his Vice, he is a distinguished Lawyer and
a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.• Even if you think
Buhari has nothing to offer, he cannot be as
hopeless, corrupt and harmful to Nigerians as
Jonathan's Government. !!• You have no reason to
allow this corrupt istration of GEJ / PDP to
continue till 2019 when you can booth them out
now.• Vote wisely. Be intelligent.

Oshey!

DailyTimes:

We'll Disgrace Patience Jonathan If She Insist On Coming To Bayelsa PDP Rally - Angry Youths

GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN- the most desperate presidential aspirant in the history of man kind.

Let us move away from this now. It has been put to rest already. Let's talk about the economy, security, unemployment, healthcare, inflation, infrastructure, etc.

I guess the PDP response to all those indices stated above would be "trains"!

Ah ah I thought they showed computer print out already, which one when dem come dey cite law now.


This Drama sha... too sweet.

na their wahala be dat

Lie lie Party. Keep deceiving

Certipicate or no certipicate,I already made up my mind on whom I will vote for.