The long-standing controversy surrounding the educational background of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has resurfaced, raising questions about the authenticity of his qualifications.
Court documents have come to light, casting doubt on the credibility of Governor Uzodinma’s educational credentials.
Recall that the occupant of Aso Rock, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had his claimed educational credentials from Chicago State University refuted, as the institution verified that the diploma certificate he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was indeed fake.
A cache of documents, which includes certified copies of records, affidavits, and court orders, has been obtained by Imohorn.com, an online news platform. These documents, now in the public domain, have intensified the debate surrounding the governor’s educational history.
Uzodinma, who has held office in Imo State for over three years, is set to seek re-election in the upcoming November governorship poll. However, the cloud of uncertainty over his qualifications may pose a significant challenge to his political aspirations.
Before ascending to the governorship, Uzodinma served as the representative for Imo West Senatorial District in the National Assembly from 2011 to 2019. During his time in the Senate, he faced multiple legal challenges questioning his integrity and legitimacy as a candidate.
The recent acquisition of certified documents has shed new light on the controversial qualifications of the governor, sparking a heated battle over the authenticity of his educational records.
One of the most prominent challengers to the legitimacy of Uzodinma’s Senate seat was Ebubeagu Ekenulo, a well-known activist in the South East. In 2013, Ekenulo filed a lawsuit, urging the Federal High Court in Lagos to compel the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to release Uzodinma’s academic records.
Both the WAEC head office and the regional office were named as the first and second defendants in the lawsuit. Ekenulo pointed out inconsistencies between the information provided by Uzodinma on his nomination form submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and what he stated in a newspaper interview.
According to the INEC form, Uzodinma claimed to have taken his WASSCE exam at Mgbidi Boys Secondary School in Imo State. However, in a 2012 interview published in ThisDay newspaper, he asserted that he attended Government Secondary School Etche in Rivers State and obtained his “O levels WAEC” there.
Ekenulo, in a sworn affidavit, stated that he had instructed his solicitors to verify this information with the Principal of Government Secondary School Etche, Rivers State, who confirmed that Uzodinma Hope attended the school from 1978 to 1981 but did not sit for the West African School Certificate (WASC) examination.
Furthermore, he sought to obtain a comprehensive list of all candidates who took the certificate examination at Mgbidi Boys Secondary School from WAEC to verify Uzodinma’s claims, but his request was denied.
The 1st and 2nd Defendants declined to provide the requested information, citing concerns about the disclosure of personal candidate information.
In the same year, Festus Keyamo also sued WAEC, seeking an order to compel the release of the original copy of the West African Senior School Certificate of Mr. Uzodinma.
After a protracted legal process, the Lagos State High Court issued a ruling in 2016 ordering WAEC to provide the information sought by both Ekenulo and Keyamo. The court declared that WAEC was legally obligated to provide Ekenulo with the information he had requested, as they had contravened the Freedom of Information Act 2011 by failing to do so.
A civil society organization in Imo state, Integrity for Governance in Imo (IGI), has urged Governor Uzodinma to be transparent and address concerns about his educational records. The group’s lead convener, Michael Okonkwo, emphasized that these doubts have persisted for too long and called for a thorough investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).
As Governor Uzodinma gears up for re-election, the controversy surrounding his educational qualifications looms large, raising questions about his eligibility and integrity as a public official.