Presidential poll: Buhari ’eminently’ qualified to contest with, without attaching certificate, Tribunal rules

The 2019 Presidential Electoral Tribunal sitting in Abuja has ruled that President Muhammadu Buhari is not only qualified but eminently qualified to contest the 2019 presidential election with or without attaching his educational qualification.

The Tribunal Chairman, Garba Mohammed while reading the judgement said: Buhari would have been qualified by mere showing that he had primary school education. The tribunal says the courses attended by Buhari are higher than secondary school education. Exhibits 21 and 24 tendered by the petitioners showed that Buhari had WASC.

The petitioners have failed to discharge the burden of proof of the allegation of non-qualification or submission of false information which is fundamental in the aid of the 2nd respondent’s qualification, the tribunal declares.

“In effect, the 2nd defendant went through secondary education and then proceeded to military school. The military school is higher than secondary education,” says the tribunal.

Tribunal says it is established that a candidate is not required under the Electoral Act to attach his certificate to his Form CF001 before a candidate is adjudged to have the requisite qualification to contest the election.

Citing a previous Supreme Court judgment, the tribunal says, “Submission of educational certificate is not a requirement for qualification to contest election for governor under section 177 Constitution.”

More details soon…