A civil society group, the Center for Reform and Public Advocacy, CFRPA, has reopened the controversy over the genuineness of the Chicago State University certificate President Bola Tinubu used to secure clearance for the 2023 general election.The group, which advocates good governance in Nigeria, has formally written to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, demanding clarification on the status of the degree certificate President Tinubu claims to have obtained and continues to parade.In a letter dated June 19, 2026 and received at INEC Headquarters, Abuja, same day, CFRPA urged the electoral body to provide expedited clarification to ensure sanity in the polity ahead of the 2027 elections.The group said its demand is based on the need for INEC to prevent contestants of doubtful background from participating in the 2027 presidential poll, and to bar such persons from accessing leadership positions at all levels.The letter, signed by the group’s Head of Legal Unit, Barrister Kalu Agu, alleged that while President Tinubu claimed to have attended Government College Lagos in 1960 and graduated in May 1970, the school was actually established in 1974.CFRPA therefore argued that the primary and secondary school certificates President Tinubu paraded and allegedly used to gain admission to Chicago State University may have been forged. It said INEC must clarify the matter.The group urged Professor Amupitan, a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, to use his experience to resolve the lingering issue surrounding President Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.CFRPA noted that INEC’s clarification is imperative given the legal implications of forged certificates under Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, and Section 285(14), which empowers the Commission to disqualify ineligible candidates.The group warned that if INEC fails to state its position on Tinubu’s eligibility for 2027, it will have no option but to institute legal action to compel the Commission to act in the public interest.Part of the letter read: “We are a non-profit, pro-democracy, human rights, anti-corruption and public interest advocacy organization in Nigeria.“In line with our objectives, we respectfully bring to your notice the alleged fake Chicago State University certificate and forged NYSC discharge certificate presented to the Commission by President Bola A. Tinubu to support his qualification for the 2023 presidential election. The said certificates, which formed part of President Tinubu’s INEC Form EC9, are annexed and marked as ‘EXHIBIT INEC’.