Senior Advocate’s Insights on Atiku’s Petition Against Tinubu

Prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Wahab Shittu, has provided valuable insights into why he believes Atiku Abubakar’s petition against President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential race has failed to gain traction.

Examining President Tinubu’s Academic Records

Shittu’s remarks come in light of the recent release of President Tinubu’s academic records by Chicago State University (CSU), as ordered by Justice Nancy Maldonado of the Northern District of Illinois Court, USA. These records have been a focal point in the ongoing legal battle.

Allegations of Disqualification and Forged Credentials

Atiku’s petition aimed to disqualify President Tinubu from the presidential race, with the hope of securing a declaration as the winner, given his second-place finish in the February 25 elections.

Central to this challenge were allegations related to President Tinubu’s academic qualifications.

Proof of President Tinubu’s Qualifications

According to Shittu, the CSU’s release of President Tinubu’s academic records provides clear evidence that President Tinubu did attend the institution and that genuine certificates were issued to him.

These records satisfy the constitutional requirement for presidential qualification, which mandates at least a school certificate level or its equivalent.

Clarifying the CSU’s Stance

Shittu pointed out that the CSU did not deny issuing the certificate to President Tinubu in 1979 but clarified that the university does not retain duplicate copies of issued certificates. This internal administrative matter cannot be attributed to President Tinubu.

Forgery Allegations Disputed

The lawyer emphasized that the allegations of forgery against President Tinubu were not substantiated and ultimately collapsed.

Resolution of All Issues Against Tinubu

Shittu concluded that all the issues raised by Atiku against President Tinubu have been resolved in favor of the incumbent president.

This includes President Tinubu’s qualification by constitutional standards and the absence of forgery in connection with the CSU certificate.

Atiku’s Intention and Its Outcome

Shittu suggested that Atiku’s intention in seeking CSU details was to prove that President Tinubu never attended the university and had forged a certificate from CSU.

However, these allegations have been disproven, leading to the failure of Atiku’s case.

These developments shed light on the legal challenges faced by presidential candidates in the 2023 election, with President Tinubu’s qualifications now confirmed by CSU records