Editorial note: This article reflects the controversy surrounding Muhammadu Buhari’s educational qualification during the campaign for Nigeria’s 2015 presidential election. The document released by his former school was a statement of result, not the original West African School Certificate.
The controversy surrounding the eligibility of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), appeared likely to ease following the release of his academic record by his former school.
The authorities of Government College, Katsina—formerly Provincial Secondary School, Katsina—made copies of Buhari’s statement of result available to journalists on 21 January 2015 at his request.
The statement appeared to have been extracted from the school’s record of candidates who sat the 1961 West African School Certificate Examination. It showed that Buhari sat the examination alongside several other students. (premiumtimesng.com)
Buhari’s eligibility to contest for the presidency had earlier been questioned by some of his political opponents. He had submitted an affidavit to the Independent National Electoral Commission stating that his academic documents were with the Secretary of the Military Board.
However, the Nigerian Army later stated that Buhari’s personal file did not contain the original certificate or statement of result, although it contained other records showing that he had attended secondary school. (thecable.ng)
The document released by Government College, Katsina, supported Buhari’s claim that he attended the school and sat the West African School Certificate Examination. However, because it was a newly issued statement of result rather than the original certificate, the political controversy did not entirely end.
The academic record and the original report on its release can be viewed through Premium Times.
Later Development
Muhammadu Buhari eventually contested and won the 2015 presidential election. He served as President of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023.
In 2018, the West African Examinations Council presented him with an attestation of result. Questions about his educational qualification arose again during the 2019 election, but legal actions seeking his disqualification were unsuccessful. One appeal was dismissed by the Supreme Court in September 2019. (punchng.com)
Buhari died on 13 July 2025, after leaving office two years earlier. (premiumtimesng.com)
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