Brussels has become the latest point of international attention in Nigeria’s growing political contest ahead of the 2027 general elections, following a petition by Barrister Kalu Kalu against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Kalu, a Nigerian lawyer and ADC chieftain, on Friday visited the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, where he submitted a formal petition concerning what he described as alleged certificate forgery, non-disclosure of educational history and threats to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
According to Kalu, the petition is aimed at drawing the attention of the European Union to issues he believes could affect Nigeria’s democratic stability and the credibility of the 2027 electoral process.
At the centre of the petition are allegations concerning documents allegedly submitted by President Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Kalu alleged that Tinubu submitted false academic credentials to INEC and failed to disclose details of his primary and secondary school education in documents connected to his political career.
He argued that the alleged omissions and discrepancies amounted to violations of constitutional requirements relating to the qualification of presidential candidates.
“Section 137 says if you have presented a false certificate to INEC, you will not be qualified to run in the election,” Kalu said, while explaining the basis of his petition.
He further alleged that the documents submitted to INEC could affect Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Beyond the certificate claims, Kalu’s petition also raises questions surrounding an alleged $460,000 forfeiture linked to a historic United States narcotics case.
He also accused the Tinubu administration of concentrating political power and alleged that Nigeria’s constitutional order had been undermined.
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Kalu described the issues raised in his petition as matters requiring greater scrutiny ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, the allegations contained in the petition remain claims by the ADC chieftain and have not been established by a court.
Explaining his decision to submit the petition to the European Commission, Kalu said he wanted the European Union to take note of what he described as threats to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
He said international scrutiny could help draw attention to questions surrounding political accountability, constitutional compliance and the conduct of the electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.
Kalu urged the EU to take note of the issues raised as Nigeria prepares for another major electoral contest.
The petition comes amid ongoing political debates in Nigeria over the qualifications of presidential candidates, the verification of credentials and the role of INEC in vetting documents submitted by candidates.
It also adds an international dimension to the increasingly heated political discussions surrounding the 2027 presidential election.
As of press time, the Presidency and INEC had not issued an official response to Kalu’s petition or the allegations contained in it.
The claims have not been determined by a court, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains presumed innocent unless and until any allegation against him is established through due legal process.
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