By Mercy Peter
Two of the presidential candidates contesting the 2027 general election, possess Doctorate degrees.
A handful of candidates with diploma qualifications occupy the lower end of the academic ladder, according to an analysis of the particulars submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This is as four women made it to the ballot in what has been described as male dominated.
The analysis of the candidates’ educational credentials shows that Sandy Ojang Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Dr. Sunday Chibuzo Okereke of the Labour Party (LP) are the two presidential candidates with the highest academic qualifications, each holding a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree.
Next to them, is Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), whose highest qualification is a Master of Science (M.Sc.).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Adekunle Rufai Omoaje of the Action Alliance (AA), Peter Gregory Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC)hold Bachelor’s degrees.
Also, Presidential candidate of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), submitted a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) as his highest academic qualification alongside his professional qualification as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
At the lower end of the academic spectrum are Ada Elizabeth Fredrick Okwori of the National Democratic Party (NDP) with HND and Anita Zugwai-Chukwu of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), whose highest qualifications are Diplomas in Public Administration, making them the candidates with the least academic qualifications among those reviewed.
INEC’s records also reveal that the presidential contest remains overwhelmingly male. Of the 18 presidential candidates, 14 are men, while four are women.
The four female presidential candidates are:
Ada Elizabeth Fredrick Okwori (NDP)
Anita Zugwai-Chukwu (YPP)
Esther Nkem Okereke (NRM)
Juliet Onuoha (APM)
On the part of Vice-Presidential Candidates, the highest academic qualification is Phd.
Those holding doctorate degrees are Umaru Babagida of the PDP, and Musa Mohammed Rabiu of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), who holds a Ph.D. in Water Resources Engineering.
Other highly qualified running mates include Kashim Shettima of the APC, whose highest qualification is a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Agricultural Economics, and Hajja Bintu Konto of the Labour Party, who also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health.
Among the vice-presidential candidates reviewed so far, Rotimi Amaechi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English Studies as his highest academic qualification, making it the lowest qualification among the vice-presidential candidates covered in this analysis.
In terms of gender representation, the vice-presidential field comprises 14 men and four women, mirroring the gender distribution among the presidential candidates.
