President Muhammadu Buhari has countered the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 election, Atiku Abubakar, who says that Buhari does not possess the necessary educational qualification to contest the presidential election.
Atiku and his party say that Buhari gave false information about his school certificate in the Form CF001, which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a counter-accusation on Wednesday, the president’s counsel, Wole Olanipekun, challenged Atiku to produce his “educational certificates, indicating the schools attended by him, with dates,” before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.
The president, through his lawyer, also said he possessed more than the constitutionally required educational qualifications to contest the election.
He added that he was “head and shoulder above” Atiku in terms of educational qualifications, training and courses attended, both within and outside Nigeria, and that the PDP candidate could not match him in terms of acquisition of knowledge, certificates, laurels, medals and experience.
Part of Buhari’s reply reads: “The respondent (Buhari) avers that he is far more qualified, both constitutionally and educationally, to contest and occupy the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria than the 1st petitioner; and that in terms of educational qualifications, training and courses attended, both within and outside Nigeria, he is head and shoulder above the 1st petitioner in terms of acquisition of knowledge, certificates, laurels, medals and experience.
“Respondent states further that it is the 1st petitioner who is not qualified to contest the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and challenges the educational credentials and certificates of the 1st petitioner.
“The 1st petitioner is hereby given notice to produce and tender his educational certificates, indicating the schools attended by him, with dates.”
