In an effort to meet the deadline for the submission of nomination forms of presidential candidates for next year’s election,  the vice-presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Ibrahim Masari has been unable to present his certificates to the National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Form EC9 bearing Masari’s particulars revealed that he did not attach any certificate in support of his educational qualifications. Masari, rather, attached a sworn affidavit claiming the loss of vital documents, including his school certificates.

Masari claimed to have lost his certificates alongside other documents last July in Abuja.

The sworn affidavit presented to the Supreme Court, Abuja, stated thus, “That sometime in January 2021, while on transit within Wuse Area, FCT-Abuja, I discovered that my original Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of Plot, No. KT 17522, GRA, Katsina, Katsina State; Certificate of Kaduna State Development Centre from 1994 – 1995; Grade ll Certificate from Katsina Teachers’ College (KTC) from 1978-1983 and First Leaving School Certificate, issued by Masari Primary, Katsina State, from 1972-1978, got lost.”

According to Masari, “all efforts to trace the documents proved abortive, hence, the affidavit”.

However, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma said the certificate debate around his party’s presidential duo was of little or no importance, stressing that Tinubu’s past electoral records would suffice.

He said, “Well, all the things so mentioned are entirely party challenges that will be resolved. But, for my presidential candidate, the issue of a certificate shouldn’t even arise. In 1999, he contested elections and became the governor of Lagos, and in 2003, he contested the election for second-term governor of Lagos”.

The Governor also said that Bola Tinubu had run and won as a senator in the country.