Bauchi APM Governorship Candidate Omits Previously Claimed PhD From INEC Credentials
By our correspondent
The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Bauchi State, Yakubu Adamu, has omitted the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree he previously claimed from the academic qualifications submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A review of the candidate's latest documents filed with the electoral commission indicates that only his First School Leaving Certificate, Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE), and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Management are now listed among his educational qualifications. The doctorate, which had previously featured in his public profile, is no longer included.
The development follows a series of investigative reports published by WikkiTimes that questioned the authenticity of the PhD Adamu claimed to have obtained from the International University of Bamenda (IUB) in Cameroon.
According to the reports, WikkiTimes alleged that Cameroon's higher education regulatory framework does not authorize private universities, including IUB, to award doctoral degrees. The publication also raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the award of the doctorate and the university's academic processes.
In subsequent investigations, WikkiTimes reported that institutions cited as international partners of IUB either denied any formal affiliation with the university or were no longer operational. The newspaper further reported that Nigeria's National Universities Commission (NUC) stated that the International University of Bamenda was not among the foreign universities recognized in its records, while clarifying that the verification of foreign institutions falls outside its statutory responsibilities.
Following the controversy, Adamu's updated credentials submitted to INEC no longer contain any reference to the previously claimed PhD qualification.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no public explanation from the APM governorship candidate regarding the omission. Efforts by other media organisations to obtain his reaction were reported to have been unsuccessful.
The development has renewed public attention on the importance of transparency in the educational credentials presented by political office seekers, with analysts noting that the scrutiny of candidates' qualifications remains an essential aspect of democratic accountability.
The Analyst Online Media will continue to monitor the matter and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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politics