Ekiti 2026: Certificate Storm Hits APC as Deputy Gov’s WAEC Result Sparks Fury

The political atmosphere in Ekiti State has been electrified following the release of the academic credentials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate, Monisade Afuye. Ahead of the June 20, 2026, governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently published the particulars of all candidates, inadvertently launching a heated debate over the intellectual suitability of the state’s second-in-command. The controversy centers on a 1978 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate from Amoye Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti, which shows a lean tally of four subjects: two credits in Economics and Literature, and two passes in History and Mathematics.

Opposition parties have seized on the document, framing it as an affront to Ekiti’s reputation as Nigeria’s “Fountain of Knowledge.” The South-West Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Sanya Atofarati, described the submission as an “embarrassing slap” on a state that prides itself on having one of the highest concentrations of professors in the country. Atofarati questioned how a candidate with such a “low-level” academic record could effectively represent the state in high-level deliberations with technocrats and scholars, calling the nomination a “dehumanizing” choice for Ekiti’s intellectual class.

Adding fuel to the fire, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised doubts about the authenticity of Afuye’s educational journey. State Publicity Secretary Gboyega Aribisogan alleged that archival searches suggested Afuye may not have completed her education at the school she claimed to have attended. According to Aribisogan, former colleagues have hinted that she sat for the General Certificate of Education (GCE) outside the formal school structure, leading to what he termed “doubtful credentials” that were reportedly “swept under the carpet” during her initial nomination in 2022.

The ADC chieftain warned that the brewing controversy is not merely a matter of public opinion but a potential legal landmine. He suggested that the “needful” would be done at the appropriate time, hinting at a new round of litigation that could theoretically truncate the ambitions of both the Governor and the Deputy Governor. This “litigation ghost” has haunted Ekiti politics in the past, and the opposition appears eager to test whether the constitutional requirements for “school certificate level or its equivalent” will be a sufficient shield for Afuye this time around.

In a swift defense, the Ekiti APC has dismissed the uproar as “sensationalism” fueled by a desperate opposition. Party Publicity Secretary Segun Dipe insisted that the criticisms are baseless and purely motivated by the upcoming June polls. Dipe maintained that Afuye has met all constitutional requirements to hold the office of Deputy Governor, accusing the PDP and ADC of attempting to undermine public confidence in an administration that has already secured the endorsement of various stakeholders for a second term.

As the June 20 election draws nearer, the “certificate saga” has become a litmus test for the political value of academic excellence versus grassroots popularity in Ekiti. While the APC points to Afuye’s “Omoluabi” character and local groundedness, the opposition is betting that Ekiti voters will be swayed by the perceived lack of intellectual heft. In a state where education is often considered the only “industry,” this 1978 WAEC result may carry more weight at the ballot box than any infrastructure project.