Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has said that Nigerian politicians do not need to falsify academic qualifications to contest elections or secure government appointments, noting that a secondary school certificate remains the minimum requirement under the law.
Sani made the remark on Monday via a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, following an investigative report by Premium Times which revealed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) had disowned the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree certificate presented by Uche Nnaji, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Background: UNN Disowns Minister’s Certificate
According to the Premium Times investigation, the University of Nigeria stated that Nnaji did not complete his studies at the institution and was never issued a certificate.
The report, citing court documents filed before Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja, added that Nnaji himself admitted that UNN never issued him a degree certificate.
In response, the minister filed a suit against the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the University of Nigeria, its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, the Registrar, a former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oguejiofor Ujam, and the University Senate.
The court reportedly granted three of Nnaji’s prayers — including an order compelling the university to release his academic transcript — but declined to grant an injunction against the defendants. The case has been adjourned to October 6, 2025, for further hearing.
Sani’s Reaction: “Some Troubles Are Self-Inflicted”
Reacting to the controversy, Shehu Sani urged politicians to avoid inflating or falsifying academic credentials, warning that such acts inevitably attract public scrutiny.
“All you need to contest elections or for political appointment is a secondary school certificate,” Sani wrote.
“There is no way in the realm of politics one can claim any unearned qualifications without his or her political opponents digging into the matter. Some troubles are unnecessarily self-inflicted.”
His comment has since drawn wide attention online, with many users echoing his call for greater integrity and transparency among public officials.
Legal Requirement for Political Office
Under Section 131(d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), a person is qualified to contest for president if he or she has been educated up to at least the school certificate level or its equivalent. The same educational threshold applies to most elective offices across Nigeria.
Analysts note that this legal standard often contrasts with the higher qualifications many candidates claim, sometimes leading to controversies over forged or unverified certificates.
Broader Implications
The case adds to a growing list of credential-related controversies involving Nigerian politicians and public office holders, prompting renewed calls for stricter vetting and verification mechanisms by regulatory bodies such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Federal Civil Service Commission.
Observers say the outcome of Nnaji’s case could set a precedent for how educational qualification disputes are treated in Nigerian courts going forward.
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