2023: Gov Uzodinma Tackles INEC Over Tinubu’s School Certificates

The executive Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma has claimed that under normal circumstances, the school certificates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu should be available on the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

According to him, since the electoral body claimed it has a functional server, documents of the former governor of Lagos State as well as other politicians should domicile in the said server.

Naija News understands that Uzodinma made the statement while reacting to trending controversies surrounding Tinubu’s secondary and primary school certificates.

The Imo State governor tackled Nigerians for raising what he termed unnecessary conversation over the presidential hopeful’s school certificates.

Uzodinma said for someone who served twice as governor of Lagos State and also ran as a Senator and won, such discussions should not have erupted about his qualifications.

The Governor, however, said given the timeline available for their candidate, INEC would be provided with the necessary documents before the time elapses.

Uzodimna said: “Well, all the things so mentioned are entire party challenges that will be resolved. But for my presidential candidate, the issue of certificates shouldn’t even arise.

“In 1999 he contested elections and became the governor of Lagos, in 2003 he contested election second-term governor of Lagos. He ran and won as a senator in the country, where record keeping is efficient, and the INEC server is functional, he doesn’t need to do a fresh submission. However, if whatever he is supposed to submit is not handy, it is not late yet. I’m sure before the time he will submit whatever is required of him”.

Questioned by State House Correspondents why Tinubu is yet to produce a running mate despite INEC’s deadline closing in, Uzodinma said: “What do you mean by difficulty? Who told you? The deadline is not yet here until the period of submission is over and we are not able to put a running mate, that is the only way you can ask this kind of question.

“However, I know because of the strength of character in our party, being the ruling party and how important the party is to us including you here, I appreciate your concern but be rest assured that we will fill a complete ticket for the presidential contest”.

Naija News understands that the Imo State Governor interacted with the press briefly after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa Abuja earlier on Tuesday before the President departed for Portugal for a state visit.