Tinubu Should Return to Primary School, Let Serious People Contest — Sowore

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has renewed his criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, questioning his educational qualifications and urging him to abandon his 2027 presidential ambition in favour of what he described as “serious candidates.”

Sowore made the remarks on Monday while addressing journalists after appearing in court over his ongoing trial linked to his description of President Tinubu as a “criminal.”

Commenting on the recently released list of presidential candidates, Sowore noted that the AAC emerged as one of the parties that successfully submitted a presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

“Yesterday, the list of presidential candidates was released. We are number two on the list, the African Action Congress,” he said.

According to Sowore, only 19 political parties submitted presidential candidates, while he alleged that some parties either failed to submit candidates or nominated individuals who would not eventually participate in the election.

Turning his attention to President Tinubu, Sowore revisited long-standing controversies surrounding the President’s academic credentials.

He alleged that Tinubu did not attend primary or secondary school and criticised the documents submitted in support of the President’s educational qualifications.

“The presidential candidate of the APC did not go to primary school or secondary school. He only presented one paper from Chicago State University, which was different from the one presented in 1999,” Sowore claimed.

He then suggested that the President should take advantage of adult education programmes.

“It is not too late to take advantage of adult education. He should go back to primary school and secondary school, even if it is online,” he said.

Drawing a comparison with a former minister who completed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) after being appointed into office, Sowore argued that there should be no shame in returning to school.

He maintained that President Tinubu should step aside and allow what he described as more qualified candidates to contest the presidency.

Sowore also used the opportunity to mobilise support for the Take It Back Movement’s planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 5, tagged RevolutionNow 5.0.

According to him, the annual protest is intended to draw attention to what he described as worsening governance, economic hardship and constitutional challenges facing Nigeria.

“We are asking Nigerians to understand the precarious constitutional situation. These guys have come to destroy your country. We are the only ones standing between them and the final annihilation of Nigerian people,” he said.

Sowore added that the RevolutionNow campaign, which began in 2019, remains focused on demanding political and economic reforms in Nigeria.

The Presidency has repeatedly defended President Tinubu’s academic records, while Nigerian courts have previously ruled on legal disputes relating to his educational credentials.