Dalung Asks Tinubu to Clarify Blank Primary, Secondary School Sections in INEC Form

Former Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has called on President Bola Tinubu to explain why the sections for his primary and secondary school qualifications were left blank in the personal particulars submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the 2027 presidential election.

Dalung made the call in a post on his X account on Saturday while reacting to the nomination documents published by INEC. He said his comments were based on the documents released by the commission and should not be interpreted as an allegation against the President.

“I just read the published particulars of presidential candidates released by INEC for the 2027 election, and one thing immediately caught my attention,” Dalung wrote.

He noted that Tinubu listed only his university degree while leaving the sections for primary and secondary school qualifications blank.

The former minister said the omission raises questions that deserve clarification, stressing that public trust is strengthened through openness and transparency.

“If there is a perfectly reasonable explanation, Nigerians deserve to hear it. Public office, especially the presidency, is built on public trust. Trust flourishes where there is openness, not ambiguity,” he stated.

Dalung argued that the same standard of accountability demanded of other political actors should also apply to the incumbent president. He maintained that the issue was not whether Tinubu attended any particular primary or secondary school, but whether holders of public office should provide complete disclosures in official documents.

“The same standard applied to every other candidate should apply to the incumbent President. No more, no less,” he said.

Dalung added that transparency remains the easiest way to address public concerns, and that silence often fuels speculation.

“The easiest way to put every question to rest is transparency. Silence rarely ends speculation; openness usually does,” he added.

Dalung’s remarks followed INEC’s publication of the personal particulars of presidential candidates on Saturday.

A review of Tinubu’s EC9 nomination form showed that the President listed only a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration obtained from Chicago State University in 1979 under the educational qualifications section. The spaces provided for his primary and secondary school qualifications were left blank.

The President, however, attached copies of his university degree certificate and National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, certificate as part of the supporting documents submitted to INEC.