A former lecturer at Chicago State University, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, has publicly accused the Minister of Education and the Presidency of untruthfulness regarding the academic records of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking during a live broadcast interview on News Central TV on Monday morning, November 9, 2026, Dr. Pearse, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, asserted that official statements defending President Tinubu’s qualifications directly contradict the records submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Dr. Pearse, who stated he served as a lecturer and director of an academic program at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990, launched a direct attack on the integrity of the administration’s defenses.
During the broadcast, Pearse openly stated that the Minister of Education works for the President and accused both officials of lying to the public, arguing that official narratives fail to align with historical electoral filings.
He specifically dismissed alternative explanations offered by government representatives suggesting the President was homeschooled prior to his higher education, pointing out that the records submitted to the electoral body never claimed homeschooling but listed specific institutions instead.
He further claimed that as far back as 1999, during political inquiries led by the late Lagos politician Funsho Williams, representatives were sent to him in Chicago to verify the credentials in question.
Despite Dr. Pearse’s assertions that the President never attended the institution, official university documentation previously presented in legal and public proceedings reflects a different timeline.
Records released by Chicago State University confirm that Bola Ahmed Tinubu attended the university from 1977 to 1979 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1979, five years before Dr. Pearse’s self-stated tenure at the institution began.
The fresh allegations come as political debate heightens ahead of the 2027 general elections. As of Monday morning, presidential spokespersons Bayo Onanuga and Daniel Bwala had not issued a formal response to the specific comments made during the broadcast.
However, the claims quickly drew support from Lagos political figure Babatunde Gbadamosi, who publicly defended Pearse on social media, describing him as a man of integrity who had previously raised the matter in private discussions.
Dr. Pearse concluded the interview by noting that despite his ongoing concerns regarding the academic records, he has historically advised opposition political figures to focus their campaigns primarily on governance, security, and economic performance rather than lingering certificate controversies.
