Just in: Tinubu’s certificate saga: Nigeria’s reputation at stake–Atiku

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has spoken on the release and authentication of President Bola Tinubu’s certificate from Chicago State University.

He was reacting to the controversy surrounding the certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by President Tinubu.

“The reputation of our country is at stake and that affects Nigerians everywhere and wherever they may be,” Atiku said.

Recall that the institution had released the academic records of the President on Monday where the CSU Registrar, Carl Westberg, also carried out a deposition of the documents on Tuesday, in compliance with the ruling of Magistrate Jeffrey Gilbert.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also called on all relevant stakeholders to uphold the tenets of democracy by establishing the truth about the certificate submitted to the electoral umpire by the President.

Atiku, who finished behind Tinubu in the election, had challenged the victory of the President in court. However, the former vice-president lost as the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal struck out his petition.

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Despite the tribunal’s ruling, Atiku continued his case at a United States court, which eventually ordered the release of official documents Atiku is seeking to include in his appeal at the Supreme Court.

He had argued that there were discrepancies in the Chicago State University (CSU) certificate Tinubu submitted to INEC which should have rendered him ineligible to contest the election.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Atiku said: “I have already filed my appeal against him at the Supreme Court.

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“It is only when the court rules that he is right that I will drop this fight; in other words, I will drop this fight when the court rules because there is no court higher than the Supreme Court.”

When asked if he was under pressure from Tinubu to drop the case, Atiku claimed that after the election, he learnt that some governors were sent by Tinubu to reach out to him.