Sowore Questions Legitimacy of Tinubu Nomination Filing

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has questioned the process surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, raising concerns about why others are obtaining and completing his nomination forms on his behalf.

Sowore’s remarks followed the signing of Tinubu’s presidential nomination forms, valued at N100 million, by former Ebonyi State Governor and Minister of Works, David Umahi.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, Umahi described the endorsement as “a defining moment in Nigeria’s ongoing development journey,” saying it reflects “a collective commitment to continuity, stability, and the consolidation of gains recorded under the current administration.”

The minister noted that Tinubu’s leadership had driven key infrastructure reforms, particularly in road construction and rehabilitation, describing them as critical to economic growth. He added that the president is “well positioned to complete ongoing initiatives and further deepen development across all sectors,” while calling for continued public support and noting that “consistent leadership is essential to achieving long-term national goals.”

Reacting in a post on his verified X handle on Tuesday, Sowore questioned the rationale behind the arrangement, asking why someone else consistently fills the president’s forms in his absence.

He further suggested the practice may be deliberate, potentially to allow the president to disown the forms over questions about his qualifications.

“Why is someone always filling Tinubu’s @officialABAT election forms for him when he isn’t there? Is it so he can distance himself when they fill in his dubious qualifications or lack thereof?” Sowore wrote.

Sowore’s comments revive longstanding questions over Tinubu’s academic credentials, a subject that has generated significant public debate and legal scrutiny over the years, including a Supreme Court challenge to his 2023 election victory that touched on certificate controversies.

Tinubu’s camp has consistently maintained that his credentials are valid and in order.

No response had been issued by the presidency or Tinubu’s political team regarding Sowore’s latest remarks as of the time of this report.