House of Representatives member Dr Wale Ahmed (Agege Constituency) has condemned the renewed controversy over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) credentials, describing them as a tiresome political distraction ahead of the 2027 general election.
He said in a statement that the continued focus on allegations surrounding the President’s certificate reflected the opposition’s failure to offer Nigerians compelling alternatives on governance.
His reaction followed a fresh legal challenge reportedly instituted by former vice-president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking Tinubu’s disqualification from the 2027 presidential election over allegations concerning his NYSC certificate.
‘The case remains pending, and the allegations have not been established by a court,’ he said.
Ahmed said political actors were entitled to subject public officials to legitimate scrutiny, but insisted that elections should ultimately be about competing visions and solutions for the country.
‘Nigerians deserve a campaign of ideas, not an endless recycling of allegations. If anybody believes President Tinubu has failed, let that person tell Nigerians what he will do differently and how he will do it,’ he said.
He questioned the value of repeatedly revisiting the certificate controversy, instead of debating the economy, security, infrastructure, employment and other issues affecting Nigerians.
Ahmed cautioned against conflating the Nigerian certificate controversy with a separate legal dispute in the United States involving records connected to a historical investigation and civil forfeiture proceedings concerning funds associated with Tinubu.
‘There is a difference between legitimate scrutiny and political obsession. If there is a case before a court, let the court determine it. But an election campaign cannot be reduced to litigating the same allegations repeatedly,’ he said.
On Atiku’s renewed presidential ambition, Ahmed said he respected the former vice-president’s aspiration, but argued that political realities should also be considered.
‘I respect the life ambition of Atiku to be President, but for now he should know that the Presidency remains in the South. A southerner must have his eight-year tenure, just as the North did between 2015 and 2023,’ he said.
Ahmed added that Atiku should recognise that Tinubu intends to serve two terms and support his administration to succeed.
‘Atiku should know that longevity belongs to God. He can still be President in 2031, only if he retraces his steps to the All Progressives Congress (APC),’ he said.
The lawmaker maintained that Tinubu should ultimately be judged by his record in office and the direction of his administration, rather than allegations still subject to legal and political contestation.
‘2027 cannot be reduced to who can shout loudest about a certificate. Nigerians are asking a bigger question: who has the ideas and capacity to move Nigeria forward?’ Ahmed said.
He reaffirmed his support for Tinubu, saying Nigeria needed continuity, consolidation and the completion of reforms already underway.