A member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Sagir Mai Iyali has asked the party’s presidential screening committee to disqualify Bola Ahmed Tinubu over alleged certificate forgery.
Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State is among the aspirants vying for the APC’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 election.
The party commenced the screening of its presidential aspirants on Monday.
In a letter dated May 17, 2022, Iyali asked the party to disqualify Tinubu over alleged false documents he tendered to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 1998.
Tinubu’s academic qualifications have been a subject of controversy for over a decade.
The petition reads, “We understand that Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has since procured his expression of interest and nomination forms and has submitted the same to the party has certain issues that clearly amount to a similar disqualification scenario,” the petition reads.
“From the information contained in prior submissions to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly in 1999, Mr. Tinubu presented a false claim, on oath, of his attendance at University of Chicago from 1972-1976.
“It is clear now that these claims are false. Not only was this filed in the INEC form with a declaration on oath on December 20 1999, it was also contained in an affidavit of loss sworn to before the High Court of Lagos, Ikeja Registry, December 29th 1998.
“The latter claim that seeks to transpose history is untenable. Mr. Tinubu has to show proof he attended University of Chicago or he must stand disqualified as the opposition is in possession of these same documents. Over the years, the identity of Asiwaju Bola Anmed Tinubu has been shrouded in secrecy.
“In fact, no one can claim to know the identity of the man. Repeated efforts and demands by the general populace and the media to unravel the identity of Asiwaju Tinubu have all proved abortive and unsuccessful.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu rather chose and prefers an incognito lifestyle. Part of the man that has remained hidden is his educational background. Before now, so many reporters have launched discreet investigations to unravel the truth about the educational background of Asiwaju without success.
“We therefore urge the screening committee to invoke the powers vested on it by the constitution and guidelines of the party to disqualify Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from taking part in the APC primary election for the presidential election.”
