Post by Abiodun Aruleba (@abiodun_aruleba)

Tinubu’s Credentials and the Crisis of Credibility

The controversy surrounding Tinubu’s credentials has once again raised the question: Is INEC only now waking up to the long‑standing allegations of fraud tied to the President’s records? In 2023, the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mohammed Buba Marwa (CON), publicly stated that any candidate found guilty of drug‑related offences would be disqualified from the presidential race. For many Nigerians, that sounded like a step toward ensuring that only credible individuals could aspire to the highest office. Yet, as the weeks passed, nothing happened and, as expected, Tinubu found a way around every obstacle.

Ojo Amupitan must stand his ground and allow the law to take its full course. Nigerians deserve a moment in 2027 that can be remembered in history, (according to INEC chairman’s name-(Amupitan)
We deserve a moment where institutions prove that no individual is above accountability. If investigations eventually show that Tinubu is not qualified, then the APC should act responsibly and present a credible presidential candidate who meets the standards expected in a democratic society.

A nation only grows when its leaders emerge through transparency, legality, and integrity. Anything less weakens public trust and undermines the future Nigerians are fighting to build.

Nigeria remains one of the few places where politicians can pocket the police and operate above the law. The police force cannot act independently, and investigators appear unable, or unwilling, to conduct a thorough review of the President’s birth records, family history, and name changes. If any of these changes were done with criminal intent, that alone should disqualify someone from occupying the centre of power.

The rot goes beyond the presidency. The election that produced the current Senate President was allegedly fraudulent, and the professor who manipulated the results was jailed. The Court of Appeal not only affirmed Professor Ogban’s conviction and three‑year sentence, it also condemned his role as an academic who betrayed the integrity of the electoral process. Yet the beneficiary of that crime now presides over the nation’s lawmaking. In what civilised society does such a contradiction stand?

When I sit and reflect on my country, my heart bleeds. Any society not guided by law cannot be trusted, and without trust, the centre cannot hold.

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