You don’t need WAEC certificate to become president, governor - Festus Keyamo
- Festus Keyamo said WAEC certificate is not needed to become president or governor
- The senior lawyer said a primary six certificate is also constitutionally accepted
- Keyamo insisted however that forgery is not acceptable and thus punishable
Festus Keyamo who served as director of communication of the President Muhammadu Buhari campaign has said that WAEC certificate is not needed to be governor or president.
In a series of tweets on Monday, April 15, the senior lawyer said the constitution defines School Certificate or its equivalent to mean primary 6 School Leaving Certificate.
He said the ability to communicate in English to the satisfaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is also what is needed.
Keyamo said in the case of Osun state, the allegation of forgery of WAEC certificate by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke, requires disqualification.
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He wrote: “Yes. Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution defines School Certificate or its equivalent to mean primary 6 School Leaving Certificate plus the ability to just speak, write, understand and communicate in English language to the satisfaction of INEC. No WAEC certificate is needed.
“By the definition of 'School Certificate or its equivalent' in section 318 of the 1999 constitution, you don’t need a WAEC certificate to become President or Governor, but if you present a FORGED WAEC or other certificate to INEC for any office you will be disqualified.
“Forgery occurs when the supposed author of a document denies ever making it or denies its authenticity. WAEC has confirmed the authenticity of PMB’s certificate by issuing an attestation of it. Case closed. In #OsunCaseScenario WAEC has denied the authenticity. See the difference?
“Let me end my free lecture series by saying that the crux of the matter is that if you don’t have a WAEC certificate, there’s no need to go ahead & forge one in a bid to be Governor or President. You can still be qualified, regardless. That’s the mistake made in #OsunCaseScenario.”
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Meanwhile, Keyamo responded to former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s comment that he would continue to criticise Buhari, and that he (OBJ) is the president's boss and has led Nigeria longer than anyone else.
The former president made the comment in Abeokuta, Ogun state on Tuesday, March 5, while speaking at an event organised to celebrate his 82nd birthday.
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