By NewsNexus
Where Facts Matter

The controversy surrounding the educational qualifications of Senator David S.U. Jimkuta, representing Taraba South Senatorial District, has taken a new turn following a petition alleging that forged National Examinations Council (NECO) certificates were submitted in connection with his political nomination.

However, a review of the publicly available information as of September 24, 2026, shows that several important questions remain unanswered.

At the centre of the controversy are three principal developments: a petition reportedly submitted by retired Major General A.T. Ibrahim; a public defence by members of Jimkuta’s reported 2000 graduating set at Government Secondary School (GSS), Wukari; and the absence, so far, of publicly available authoritative verification from NECO, INEC, the school itself, a court, or Senator Jimkuta personally establishing either the authenticity or falsity of the disputed certificates.

The distinction is important.

Evidence that a person attended a particular school and graduated with a particular set is relevant to establishing his educational history. It is not, by itself, official authentication of a particular examination certificate subsequently presented to a political party or electoral authority.

THE PETITION THAT TRIGGERED THE CONTROVERSY

Retired Major General A.T. Ibrahim, who reportedly contested the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Taraba South, submitted a petition dated September 21, 2026, to the National Chairman of the APC.

The reported title of the petition is:

“Petition for the Disqualification of Senator David Jimkuta for Submitting Forged Documents to INEC and Also for Making a False Declaration on Oath to the Party and INEC.”

According to reports reproducing portions of the petition, Ibrahim alleges that Jimkuta submitted forged examination certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC.

The petition reportedly identifies the disputed documents as NECO certificates and alleges that they were attached to Jimkuta’s Declaration of Interest and Nomination Forms submitted to the party and INEC.

Ibrahim further alleges that the documents were sworn to as genuine and argues that the alleged conduct should affect Jimkuta’s eligibility to participate in the political process.

These, however, remain allegations contained in a political petition. They should not be treated as established findings unless and until supported by competent verification or adjudication.

WHAT THE FORMER CLASSMATES SAY

On September 23, members of the GSS Wukari 2000 graduating set publicly rejected the allegation.

The group said Jimkuta was a member of their graduating class and that they returned to the school to examine records after becoming aware of the petition.

According to reports of their press briefing, Haruna Magaji, speaking for the group, said Jimkuta’s name appeared as No. 98 on the relevant school list.

The group included Haruna Magaji, Galeya Gembo Suntai, Zakaria Luka, Emmanuel Audu, Manasseh Wunuji and Habibu Isyaka.

They maintained that Jimkuta graduated with them in 2000 and said their set was among the school’s pioneer groups to sit for the NECO examination.

Their position is therefore straightforward: Jimkuta was a genuine member of their graduating class and, in their view, the allegation that his secondary-school qualification was fabricated is unfounded.

BUT THE CLASSMATES’ STATEMENT IS NOT THE SAME AS OFFICIAL SCHOOL CONFIRMATION

The intervention by Jimkuta’s former classmates is relevant, particularly because they say they personally knew him as a member of their class and subsequently checked school records.

However, their statement should not automatically be treated as an official confirmation by Government Secondary School, Wukari.

For the matter to move from personal testimony to institutional verification, the school itself would need to formally confirm, through its records, that David S.U. Jimkuta:

1. Was duly enrolled as a student of GSS Wukari;
2. Was a member of the 2000 graduating set;
3. Completed the required programme and was officially recorded as having graduated;
4. Was registered for and sat the NECO examination through the school; and
5. Has corresponding school records linking him to the relevant examination.

The classmates may have examined school records, as they say, but their account remains a statement by individuals speaking about what they say they found in those records.

It is therefore important to distinguish a statement about school records from an official statement issued by the school or its authorised records custodian.

That distinction does not mean the classmates’ evidence is irrelevant. On the contrary, if independently verified, the school records they refer to could be significant evidence in establishing Jimkuta’s educational history.

THE CERTIFICATE ITSELF REQUIRES A SEPARATE VERIFICATION

There is another important question that must be answered.

Even if GSS Wukari officially confirms that Jimkuta attended the school, graduated in 2000 and sat the NECO examination through the school, there would still be a need to establish that the particular NECO certificate allegedly presented to the APC and INEC is the same certificate, or corresponds to the certificate and examination record issued to him after he sat the examination.

In other words, the documentary trail should ideally establish:

GSS Wukari student record → 2000 graduation record → NECO registration/examination record → NECO result/certificate → certificate allegedly submitted to APC/INEC.

The existence of a school record showing that Jimkuta attended and graduated would therefore answer one part of the controversy, but not necessarily every question raised by the petition.

The critical question is whether the specific certificate allegedly submitted to the political party and electoral authorities can be independently matched with the examination records maintained by NECO.

Such verification could involve the candidate’s name, examination year, examination number, subjects/results and other identifying details appearing in the relevant records, subject to applicable privacy and legal requirements.

THREE QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED

The controversy can therefore be separated into at least three distinct questions.

First: Did David Jimkuta attend and graduate from GSS Wukari in 2000?

Second: Did he register for and sit the NECO examination through GSS Wukari?

Third: Is the particular NECO certificate allegedly submitted to APC and INEC the genuine certificate corresponding to his NECO examination record?

The former classmates’ intervention addresses the first two questions to an extent, based on their account.

The third question requires a separate documentary verification.

This distinction is central to responsible reporting of the controversy.

THE MISSING PIECE: NECO VERIFICATION

The most consequential unresolved issue is therefore the position of NECO itself.

If the dispute concerns whether a particular NECO certificate is genuine, an authoritative verification from the examination body could potentially establish whether the document corresponds with NECO’s official records.

As of September 24, NewsNexus has not identified a publicly released NECO verification letter or report confirming that the disputed certificate is genuine, nor one declaring it forged.

Likewise, no public statement from INEC has been identified establishing that the certificate submitted to it by Jimkuta was forged.

No court judgment establishing that Senator Jimkuta forged an educational certificate has also been identified.

The public record therefore currently presents an allegation, a defence and outstanding questions requiring documentary verification, rather than a concluded finding.

WHERE IS SENATOR JIMKUTA?

Another notable aspect of the controversy is the apparent absence, as of September 24, of a publicly published direct response from Senator David Jimkuta specifically addressing Major General Ibrahim’s September 21 petition.

NewsNexus has also not identified a formal statement on the matter from an identified Jimkuta campaign spokesperson, lawyer or authorised legal representative.

This is significant from a journalistic standpoint because the classmates’ statement should not automatically be attributed to Jimkuta or described as his personal response.

They are former classmates who say they are defending someone they attended school with.

Their position should therefore be reported as the position of the GSS Wukari Set 2000, unless and until Jimkuta or an authorised representative formally adopts it.

THE CLASSMATES’ CHALLENGE TO IBRAHIM

The former classmates have also questioned why Ibrahim did not first approach GSS Wukari to verify Jimkuta’s educational history before submitting his petition.

They reportedly argued that the school was accessible to Ibrahim and that relevant records could have been examined.

That criticism forms part of their defence, but it does not independently establish whether the particular NECO certificate in dispute is genuine.

Similarly, references made by the classmates to Jimkuta’s relationship with Ibrahim, his assistance to him or his activities in Taraba South may be relevant to the broader political context, but they do not constitute documentary evidence concerning the authenticity of an examination certificate.

Those issues should therefore be kept separate from the certificate question.

WHAT THE PUBLIC RECORD CURRENTLY ESTABLISHES

WHY THE ISSUE HAS LEGAL AND POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Educational qualification is relevant to eligibility for election to the National Assembly.

Section 65 of Nigeria’s Constitution provides that a person seeking election to the Senate must, among other requirements, have been educated to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent and be sponsored by a political party.

Section 318 of the Constitution also defines “School Certificate or its equivalent” and provides for recognised alternatives.

The legal significance of the present controversy therefore cannot simply be reduced to whether Jimkuta attended secondary school.

The relevant questions include what qualification was declared, what document was submitted, whether the document is authentic, what was sworn to in the relevant nomination documents, and whether any alleged discrepancy has legal consequences.

The Electoral Act also contains provisions concerning forged nomination papers and the submission of forged documents in electoral processes.

Whether those provisions apply to the particular facts alleged in this case is ultimately a matter for the appropriate authorities and, where necessary, the courts.

A LOOK BACK: JIMKUTA’S ELECTORAL RECORD

The current controversy should also be distinguished from previous political disputes involving Jimkuta.

INEC records from the 2023 election identified David S.U. Jimkuta as the APC candidate for Taraba South.

Jimkuta was also involved in an earlier internal APC dispute in 2023, when the Taraba State chapter of the party announced his suspension and recommended his expulsion.

That earlier controversy concerned party affairs and political disputes. It was not a judicial finding of certificate forgery and should not be conflated with the present allegation.

WHAT WOULD RESOLVE THE CONTROVERSY?

The controversy can potentially be clarified through a series of primary documents rather than competing political statements.

1. GSS Wukari records

The school could confirm whether Jimkuta was enrolled, whether he completed his secondary education there and whether he graduated as part of the 2000 set.

2. NECO records

NECO could verify whether Jimkuta was registered for the relevant examination through GSS Wukari and whether the examination details correspond with the disputed certificate.

3. The original certificate

The actual certificate allegedly submitted to APC and INEC should be examined and compared with the relevant NECO records.

4. APC and INEC nomination documents

The documents actually submitted by Jimkuta should be established, including the certificate or certificates relied upon for his qualification.

5. Senator Jimkuta’s response

The senator or his authorised legal representatives should have an opportunity to identify the documents relied upon and respond directly to the allegations.

6. Major General Ibrahim’s evidence

The petitioner should be given an opportunity to provide the documentary evidence supporting his allegations, including the basis upon which the certificates are alleged to be forged.

7. Independent adjudication

If the dispute proceeds to a competent legal or electoral forum, the relevant authority or court can assess the evidence and determine the legal consequences.

THE CENTRAL QUESTION REMAINS UNANSWERED

At this stage, the central question is not simply:

“Did Jimkuta attend GSS Wukari?”

His former classmates say he did, and they say school records support their position.

The more specific question raised by Ibrahim’s petition is:

“Is the particular NECO certificate allegedly submitted by Senator Jimkuta to the APC and INEC authentic, and does it correspond with the official NECO record of the examination he allegedly sat through GSS Wukari?”

That question remains publicly unresolved in the material reviewed by NewsNexus.

Even an official confirmation by GSS Wukari that Jimkuta attended, graduated and sat NECO would answer only part of the controversy. There would still need to be confirmation that the certificate allegedly submitted to APC and INEC is the genuine document issued in respect of his examination record.

Conversely, an allegation that a certificate is forged should not be treated as proof of forgery without documentary evidence and appropriate verification.

NEWSNEXUS’ APPROACH: FOLLOW THE DOCUMENTS

NewsNexus does not regard either the petition or the classmates’ rebuttal as a substitute for official verification.

Major General Ibrahim has made a serious allegation. The former classmates have made a serious counterclaim.

Both deserve to be accurately reported.

Neither should be transformed into an established fact without supporting evidence.

For now, the available public information establishes that a certificate-forgery allegation has been made against Senator David S.U. Jimkuta and that members of his reported 2000 graduating set at GSS Wukari have publicly rejected the allegation.

What remains to be established is whether:

• Jimkuta officially graduated from GSS Wukari in 2000;
• he sat the relevant NECO examination through the school;
• NECO’s records correspond with the claimed examination;
• the certificate allegedly submitted to APC and INEC is the same certificate legitimately issued to him; and
• any declaration made in connection with the documents carries the legal consequences alleged in the petition.

Until the relevant documents and official verification are produced, the responsible journalistic position is to distinguish allegation from evidence, defence from verification, and political claims from established findings.

The public deserves answers based on records, not assumptions.

NewsNexus will continue to follow the documentary trail.

Where Facts Matter.