Senator David Jimkuta of Taraba State is facing a formal petition within the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding allegations that he presented a forged National Examinations Council (NECO) certificate.
The petition was submitted by retired Major General A. T. Ibrahim, a former aspirant who contested the APC senatorial primary against the current senator. Ibrahim is challenging the validity of the academic credentials used to secure the party’s ticket.
The petition regarding the alleged forgery introduces a legal challenge to Jimkuta’s standing within the party and could potentially impact his political tenure if the claims are substantiated.
The APC senatorial primary dispute
The friction between the two figures stems from the recent APC senatorial primary in Taraba State. During the internal election, Jimkuta emerged as the winner, defeating Ibrahim in the race for the party’s nomination. Following the loss, Ibrahim has moved to contest the legitimacy of the processes and the credentials provided by his opponent.
Allegations of certificate forgery are among the most serious challenges a political candidate can face in Nigeria. Under the Electoral Act, the authenticity of educational documents is a prerequisite for eligibility. If a candidate is found to have submitted falsified documents, it can lead to disqualification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or subsequent legal removal from office through judicial processes.
The retired Major General’s petition requires the APC leadership to conduct an investigation into the veracity of the NECO certificate in question. The party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms must now determine whether the document presented by Jimkuta aligns with the official records held by the National Examinations Council.
While the APC has not yet issued a formal response to the specific claims made by Ibrahim, the petition places the party’s leadership in a position where they must verify the integrity of their candidates to avoid legal complications in future electoral cycles. The outcome of this petition will depend on the findings of the party’s screening committee or any subsequent verification requested from NECO.
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