A fresh political storm is brewing ahead of the 2027 general elections as a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Barrister Kalu Kalu, has taken his allegations against President Bola Tinubu beyond Nigeria’s shores.
Kalu, a Nigerian lawyer and opposition figure, has submitted a petition to the European Commission in Brussels, calling for international attention over what he described as alleged violations of Nigeria’s constitutional order by the President.
The petition reportedly centres on three major issues — allegations of certificate forgery, the controversial $460,000 forfeiture linked to a United States narcotics-related investigation from the 1990s, and claims that democratic institutions in Nigeria have been undermined.
Kalu, who presented the petition on Friday in Brussels, alleged that President Tinubu failed to meet constitutional requirements by submitting questionable academic documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, the President’s failure to provide details of his primary and secondary school background amounts to a breach of Section 137 of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines qualifications for presidential candidates.
Speaking while submitting the petition, Kalu alleged that Tinubu had presented documents that, according to him, should disqualify him from contesting future elections.
“President Bola Tinubu has suspended the constitutional order in Nigeria because of his forged academic credentials submitted to INEC for the 2027 general elections,” Kalu claimed.
He further alleged that the President had “submitted false documents” and argued that constitutional provisions prevent anyone who presents a false certificate to INEC from contesting an election.
The lawyer also accused the administration of concentrating political power and using state institutions to suppress challenges to the President’s eligibility.
Old Controversies Reignited
The petition has revived controversies that surrounded the 2023 presidential election, particularly disputes over Tinubu’s academic records from Chicago State University (CSU) and the circumstances surrounding the forfeiture of $460,000 in the United States in 1993.
During the 2023 election legal battles, opposition candidates challenged Tinubu’s eligibility, raising questions over his academic records and the US forfeiture matter. The disputes led to legal proceedings in Nigeria and the United States, including a court order compelling Chicago State University to release records relating to Tinubu’s education.
The issue of the $460,000 forfeiture also featured prominently before Nigeria’s election tribunals. However, the Presidential Election Petition Court held that challengers failed to establish that the forfeiture amounted to a criminal conviction that would disqualify Tinubu from contesting.
The Supreme Court later dismissed an attempt by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to introduce additional evidence from Chicago State University into the presidential election appeal, ruling that the application came outside the required timeframe.
EU Pressure Bid
By taking the matter to Brussels, Kalu said he wants the European Union to examine what he described as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy and constitutional governance.
The petition is expected to fuel fresh political debates as parties begin preparations for the 2027 elections, with Tinubu’s eligibility and political future likely to remain a major subject of opposition scrutiny.
The Presidency has not issued a response to the latest petition at the time of filing this report.
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