Supreme Court: Buhari Didn’t Need To Submit School Cert. Before Contesting Election

The Supreme Court has ruled that President Muhammadu Buhari was not required to submit his academic credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While explaining reasons for dismissing the appeal by the PDP and Atiku Abubakar on Friday, the apex court held that Buhari was eminently qualified to contest the last presidential election.

According to the court, no law requires a candidate to submit his/her academic certificates to INEC before being allowed to contest election contrary to claim by the appellants.

Furthermore, Supreme Court also held that the constitution does not require one to possess secondary school certificate to be qualified, but that schooling up to secondary school, without possessing the result of the final examination was sufficient.

It stated that Buhari did not only show that he has secondary certificate and rose to the rank of Major General in the Army, attended military training, became the nation’s Head of State, could communicate in English and possessed primary school leaving certificate, all to the satisfaction of INEC.

The court, therefore, upheld the decision of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal on the issues of Buhari’s qualification and possession of relevant certificates.