Former Senate Leader and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Ali Ndume, has explained why opposition parties should not focus on President Bola Tinubu’s academic qualifications ahead of the January 16 presidential election.

Ndume spoke in a press statement on Monday.

Recall that opposition parties have raised concerns over Tinubu’s academic credentials after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, published details of the academic qualifications of 19 presidential candidates and their running mates.

Reacting, Ndume maintained that Tinubu has fulfilled the eligibility requirements for the office and dismissed the insinuation that his secondary school certificate ought to have been attached.

Citing Section 131(d) of the 1999 Constitution, the former Senate Leader submitted that “the Constitution only establishes a minimum educational threshold, but it does not insist on the particularity of a secondary school certificate as the only means by which that threshold can be met”.

“ A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if—

(d) he has been educated up to at least school certificate level or its equivalent,” he stated.

According to Ndume, opposition parties should focus on Tinubu’s policies and performance as a sitting President rather than his eligibility for the office, which he noted had been settled by litigation arising from the 2023 presidential election.

“The narrative around his certificate, in my opinion, is distracting,” the senator added.

Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has uncovered an alleged plot by individuals linked to the Rainbow Coalition, including the University of Port Harcourt, UNIPORT, Vice Chancellor, Professor Princewill Chike, to rig the forthcoming election.

In a video clip sighted by DAILY POST, the Publicity Secretary of the party in Rivers State, Chizy Enyi, alleged that the VC is a member of the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party socio-political movement formed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

According to the ADC spokesperson, there are indications that the VC, who he claimed had publicly identified with the coalition, will nominate returning officers for the forthcoming election.

He alleged that Professor Chike “was not only recommended by Wike to be the VC but that he was imposed on the university.

“In order to show the public that he is truly Wike’s product, at the entrance of the university, what you will see is the signpost of the VC with the caption, ‘Academia Rainbow Coalition of the Renewed Hope,’ with his picture on it.

“Those he will nominate as INEC returning officers for the election must be members of the coalition.

“It’s not even election time yet, but see what he is doing. During the election, all those who will be recommended are definitely going to come from the coalition.

“Professor Chike, only God knows what you have come to do in Port Harcourt. Let us see those you will recommend. Let us see whether they will rig the election.”