Senior advocate of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo, has become an object of debate after he said one does not need a WAEC certificate to become President in Nigeria.

Keyamo the director strategic communications of President Muhammadu Buhari, 2019 presidential campaign, said section 318 of the 1999 Constitution defines “School Certificate or its equivalent” to mean primary 6 School Leaving Certificate plus the ability to just speak, write, understand and communicate in English language to the satisfaction of INEC.

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Keyamo made this assertion on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

“There are other levels of qualifications to run for the office of President. In fact, if you have occupied the public office for a reasonable length of time, by the provisions of the constitution, you do not even need a WAEC certificate to become President of Nigeria”.

However, Nigerians countered him saying his principal does not have a WAEC certificate and lacks the intellectual capacity to rule Nigeria.

Some also said that that the Nigeria constitution is sham and needs to be amended to benefit its citizens.

Some also resulted to name calling while describing Keyamo with unflattering terms.

WuzupNaija reports that Keyamo further argued that Buhari’s certificate is not in question because WAEC itself confirmed that the President passed his examination and was issued a certificate.

He said “There are other levels of qualifications to run for the office of President. In fact, if you have occupied the public office for a reasonable length of time, by the provisions of the constitution, you do not even need a WAEC certificate to become President of Nigeria”.

“It becomes extremely foolish for anybody who is not statutorily empowered to issue WAEC certificates to come and challenge the body that has the statutory power to issue certificates”.

In a bid to clarify his assertions, Keyamo also said that President Buhari’s case is different from Senator Ademola Adeleke, because the latter borders upon forgery.

Yes. Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution defines “School Certificate or its equivalent” to mean primary 6 School Leaving Certificate plus the ability to just speak, write, understand and communicate in English language to the satisfaction of INEC. No WAEC certificate is needed https://t.co/kUMUCZbF5i

— Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) April 14, 2019

By the definition of “School Certificate or its equivalent” in section 318 of the 1999 const. u don’t need a WAEC certificate to become President or Governor, but if you present a FORGED WAEC or other certificate to INEC for any office you will be disqualified. #OsunStateScenario

— Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) April 15, 2019

Forgery occurs when the supposed author of a document denies ever making it or denies its authenticity. WAEC has confirmed the authenticity of PMB’s certificate by issuing an attestation of it. Case closed. In #OsunCaseScenario WAEC has denied the authenticity. See d difference?

— Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) April 15, 2019

Let me end my free lecture series by saying that the crux of the matter is that if you don’t have a WAEC certificate, there’s no need to go ahead & forge one in a bid to be Governor or President. You can still be qualified, regardless. That’s the mistake made in #OsunCaseScenario

— Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) April 15, 2019

Keyamo further advised “those who are informed” to read Section 131 in conjunction with Section 25 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended thoroughly.

See some comments:

@fkeyamo is right when he says you don’t need WAEC result to become president. Case closed.
You only have issues when you make a false claim on having the result pic.twitter.com/RdKYHYj26h

— 9jaking?? (@Godblessbale) April 15, 2019

Festus didn’t create the law. That is what our law says. Those who should done something about it do not seem to have any problem with that.

— Abuja Woofer ? (@AbujaUps) April 15, 2019

Read in between the lines. He just made a confession. Im seriously worried about how Buhari has infected a First Class lawyer to become a First Class Dullard…..There was a Keyamo .

— Odunmoluwa -Layo (@HappyDiva13) April 15, 2019

If Nigeria was your company will you employ pmb without a waec cert as your MD?

— Omini Lawrence (@lawrence_omini) April 15, 2019

Nigeria is not anyone company. Nigeria is govern by the constitution and it is that constitution we are talking about here.

— #Changehascome (@ChangeHasComee) April 15, 2019

Keep confusing your children because of political gains.

— #IStandWithAtiku (@Patrick05856722) April 15, 2019

Qualifications for Presidency:
1. “School Certificate or its equivalent”

Qualifications for Gate men in Aso Rock:
1. Bsc or HND in Engineering Security
2. MSc in Security Scientology
3. PhD in Criminology
4. Professional qualifications and 30 years experience.

— The Hand of God (@The_Hand_ofGod) April 15, 2019

You see where we got it all wrong. For you to Govern all you need is a primary school certificate & for 1 to get a decent job of say 80k he needs a https://t.co/I7kt4yT40E cert. That was the beginning of our failure as a nation.

— Usman Ak (@Aak_usman) April 15, 2019

but come to think of it this man said his WAEC was with the military, why is festus now soft peddling to Pry. six certificate. APC, Festus and their cohorts Fear God, HELL FIRE IS REAL

— inegbenoise imafidon (@inegbenoiseima2) April 15, 2019

No wonder this country is where it is- the uneducated leading the Educated!!!You may not have all the qualifications,but smart. However, in this case,Buhari is neither book nor street smart.Very sad!

— Ilayaboy (@anelec04) April 15, 2019

To my knowledge, equivalent means something that equates another and Primary school Cert definitely does not equal a whole Sec. School Cert. That extra 6 years is no joke! Equivalent should be SAT!

— Glory Ekejiuba (@MinyonaSwit) April 15, 2019

Nigeria needs a revamp….. As in…. Purge…. As in…. Total reset.
And the way the lawyers interpret the law too… Chai.

— ajebo pickin?? (@digitalbotNG) April 15, 2019

Imagine the qualification to become a President in Nigeria. But if you are unemployed , They will require you to submit First class or Second Class upper and 15 years working experience. Nonsense??

— #BrightMinds (@ikpeteboghaWG) April 15, 2019

The 9th assembly really needs to review this matter. It is unacceptable to have a constitution that allows a person without WAEC govern the largest African democracy.

— Onyemaechi Bosah?? (@onyemaechib) April 14, 2019

Mr Key, notice how Babu’s own henchmen don’t come to Twitter or the TV to talk this type of talk. Why must it be you and Sagay? These views will live on after Buhari is gone. Counsel be properly guided o

— Ozymandias, King of Kings (@sensei_the_sage) April 15, 2019

Its obvious u lost all d cases as EFCC lawyer because of this form of constitutional interpretation …if I take up law as a profession honestly I can do more than this.. Rubbish

— Mazi UD® (@i_stand_4_truth) April 15, 2019

They have no respect for education… We have bunch of illiterates controlling the wealth of the nation. Believe me, section 318 of the 1999 constitution is a complete sham.

— LORD OF THE SINGLES (@Kash_Vic) April 15, 2019

Literacy doesn’t always come with education. @fkeyamo explained d constitutional situation as regards WAEC & political office. Instead of using d internet to gain knowledge on what the Nigerian constitution says… its noisemaking everywhere. Did @fkeyamo write the constitution?

— Agbeyegbe O. Kay (@kkkay310) April 15, 2019

Constitutional or legal ambiguity is a universally acclaimed norm. It is so as not to create the intention of a bias to any person or persons. Any or all uncertainties can only be clarified by courts of appropriate jurispundence. …and once the courts have spoken, so be it.

— Agbeyegbe O. Kay (@kkkay310) April 15, 2019

Buhari may not need a WAEC certificate to contest but once he swore to an affidavit or presented a form indicating that his qualifications include WAEC it becomes a different matter. Or has he withdrawn his WAEC claim?This is a matter of perjury & not whether he is qualified. FFK

— Franklin Onoben M.Ed (@tcp_whyte) April 15, 2019

Your pointers are in line. However any verdict on perjury only comes from a court of competent jurisdiction. All other insinuations hold no grounds in front of the law.

— Agbeyegbe O. Kay (@kkkay310) April 15, 2019

The 1999 constitution was midwifed by a man who solidely supports Atiku’s candidacy . Prof. Ben Nwanbueze .
They wrote ,some also forgot APC wasn’t born when the constitution was written.

— Amedo (@Amedoreports) April 15, 2019

He may be clapping doe himself for going into the gutters with @fkeyamo. But, all these defences, did Buhari sit for WAEC? Are they responding to the petition at the tribunal or trying to kill it? APC is a virus that will swallow all Nigerians including the members of the party.

— JTRCwithATIKU ?? (@JTRCwithAtiku) April 15, 2019

Thank you! They just dabble into argument they know nothing about in trying to earn the attention of their paymaster.

— Folá Raheem (@folarus) April 15, 2019