Director, Strategic Communications of President Buhari 2019 Presidential Campaign,Festus Keyamo has argued that one does not need to have a WAEC certificate to become President or Governor of Nigeria.
Keyamo made this statement while featuring as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
He said “There are other levels of qualifications to run for the office of President. In fact, if you have occupied the public office for a reasonable length of time, by the provisions of the constitution, you do not even need a WAEC certificate to become President of Nigeria”.
While Keyamo appears to be answering back at the Peoples Democratic Party who had argued that Muhammadu Buhari didn’t deserve to run for presidency on account of the controversies surrounding his WAEC certificate, the Buhari campaign spokesperson alluded to the 2018 Osun governorship election scenario.
In the Osun case, PDP’s candidate in the election, Ademola Adeleke, was sued in separate instances by the opposition and also by members of his party concerning the status of his WAEC certificate.
Keyamo argues, “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. #OsunStateScenario.”
He also argued that Buhari’s certificate is not in question because WAEC itself confirmed that the President passed his examination and was issued a certificate.
“It becomes extremely foolish for anybody who is not statutorily empowered to issue WAEC certificates to come and challenge the body that has the statutory power to issue certificates,” he said.