You don’t need WAEC certificate to become Nigeria’s president – Festus Keyamo

The Director of Strategic Communications of the 2019 Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has said one does not need a West African Examinations Council certificate to become the president of Nigeria.
Keyamo stated this on Monday on his Twitter handle in reaction to the certificate scandal of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
He argued that 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 the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said no WAEC certificate is needed.
Keyamo stated: “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.”
The Eagle Online reports that lots of politicians have been caught in certificate scandal and even President Buhari was involved in a controversy with his certificate before the 2019 elections.