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Court Cases: WAEC Warns Against Unwarranted, Baseless, Malicious Attacks
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By Eric Elezuo
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has warned the public, especially members of the political class against attacks on its instituted officials, describing them as unnecessary, unwarranted, baseless and malicious.
The Council made the remark in a statement titled STOP THE UNNECESSARY AND UNWARRANTED ATTACKS; LET WAEC BE, and signed by its Ag. Head of Public Affairs, Ms. Moyosola Adesina.
The Body debunked stories making the round that WAEC attempted to pervert the course of justice by allegedly “conniving with some highly placed persons whose electoral victories in the last national elections are being challenged in court by their opponents. These reports even alleged that “top WAEC Directors at the Yaba office received huge sums of money in several tranches to conceal and doctor information on WAEC records concerning some defendants.” The reports went on to say that WAEC has been complicit in denying all litigants access to examination records in proof of their cases in court.” The reports also bogusly claimed that an investigative agency had gone to Ghana and completed investigations while efforts to do so in Nigeria were blocked by some WAEC officials.
It noted that while the accusations are impossible to perpetrate, it will be in the interest of the public to make some clarifications and enlightenment for the benefit of the Nigerian public and for the sake of assessment and education, generally, in Nigeria.
It noted as follows:
One, WAEC is an international examination body with a clear mandate to conduct examinations in the public interest and award certificates, and it has been doing so since 1952 without any integrity issues. Its certificates are recognised and acceptable all over the world.
Two, WAEC is a legal entity that can sue and be sued. It is a law-abiding organisation with absolute respect for the judiciary. It will, therefore, always appear in court whenever subpoenaed and obey any valid order arising there from.
Third, this is the era of politics. WAEC has been subpoenaed on several occasions to appear in court to confirm the authenticity of WAEC results, certificates, or documents tendered by some litigants, and we have always done so.
Four, for record purposes and the benefit of the Nigerian public, WAEC Ghana has nothing to do with the results of Nigerian candidates, just as Nigeria does not have anything to do with the results of Ghanaian candidates, even though we administer the same international examinations.
Therefore, saying that some investigating agency had gone to Ghana and had concluded investigations on a matter, only to be blocked on the same matter in Nigeria, is a lie from the pit of hell. How can the Ghana office, or even the headquarters, speak on a matter they know nothing about? No member country has other member countries’ results, records, and documents.
Five, WAEC has always and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement and security agencies whenever it is called upon to provide documents and records to aid their investigations on matters. We do not respond to enquiries by private individuals, non-government agencies, and law firms not authorised by courts. Bona-fide candidates’ requests are also attended to.
Six, candidate’s photocard is only used for Private Candidates Examinations, and not for School Candidates Examinations. Asking for it for a School Candidates Examination that was written in May/June 1981 was only borne out of ignorance and, therefore, tantamount to asking for the impossible.
Seven, the Council has the legal right to ask for a variation of court orders when it considers particular demands impossible.
We speak no more on that, but WAEC has and will always explain why such requests cannot be granted to petitioners.
Eight, some people tend to separate results from certificates, whereas they bear the same records and convey the same information. A certificate represents a candidate’s result in a given format. Therefore, a candidate can have a result without a certificate due to loss, destruction by fire, termites, flood, theft, etc. But a candidate can never have a certificate without a result. Once a candidate loses his/her certificate, he/she can only request Confirmation of Result or Attestation of Result (AoR). The AoR will bear the current passport photograph of the candidate. Whereas certificates are co-signed by the sitting Registrar and current Chairman of Council, AoR is co-signed by the sitting Registrar and Head of National Office (HNO).
A certificate can only be reprinted when:
1. some relevant pieces of information can still be seen on the damaged or faded one;
2. when the stock of blank certificates for the year in question is still available.
Nine, for record purposes and the avoidance of doubt, there is nothing like a duplicate certificate. Once a candidate collects his/her certificate from the Council (in the case of Private Candidates Examination) or from his/her alma mater (in the case of School Candidates Examination), that is it. Anybody or organisation or agency doubting the authenticity of such a certificate and decides to approach WAEC for authentication must avail WAEC of a copy (photocopy) of the certificate. WAEC can then give the asking agency a ‘Certified True Copy’ once confirmed. In the event of not supplying WAEC with a copy of the certificate that you want it to certify, WAEC can only avail you of a ‘Certified True Copy’ of the Result Listing of the centre where the candidate in question sat the examination. This much WAEC representatives have professionally explained at various courts whenever subpoenaed.
Having gone this far, we wish to state as follows:
1. WAEC is a tested and globally recognised international examination body that has stood the test of time since 1952. Its results and certificates are globally recognised and acceptable, just like those of other similar international examining bodies.
2. The mandate of WAEC is to conduct examinations and award certificates to deserving candidates. It is a-political and can never be involved in any political persuasion. It is a no-respecter of positions or personalities. Anybody that sits or sat WAEC examinations is simply referred to as ’candidate’.
3. WAEC will never be intimidated into doing the unethical. It is guided by the principles of professionalism and integrity. It is, therefore, laughable and insulting to say that WAEC officials collected bribes to pervert the course of justice. We shall always say the truth, no matter whose ox is gored!
4. We advise the media to be professional in their reportage and allow WAEC to concentrate on the execution of its mandate. We must guide against the bastardisation of assessment and the destruction of education in the country. When people who are not in charge of examinations and, therefore, do not have the expertise and records of relevant documents and information try to hijack the mandate of a time-tested organisation, it portends danger, and the country can only be the worse for it.
WAEC deserves accolades for holding on as a colossus for the past 71 years. Those who query the integrity of WAEC are desperadoes who simply want things in their favour at all costs. And sadly enough, these same people are proud holders of WAEC certificates!
Please, let WAEC be.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has thrown its weight behind Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde’s call for an independent United Nations (UN) investigation into the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.
The party said an impartial and transparent international investigation would help establish the facts surrounding the incident and boost public confidence in the ongoing efforts to unravel the circumstances of the abduction.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the party believed a UN-backed inquiry would uncover the truth, ensure accountability and deliver justice to the victims and their families.
According to the party, Governor Makinde’s request for a UN investigation was driven by the need for transparency rather than politics, stressing that all questions surrounding the incident should be addressed through a credible and independent process that Nigerians can trust.
The NDC also urged the Federal Government to support every lawful initiative aimed at uncovering the truth, strengthening public confidence in the country’s security institutions and preventing similar incidents in the future.
It maintained that the safety and security of Nigerian children should never become a subject of political disagreement or speculation, insisting that the lives of students deserve the highest level of accountability.
The party added that an independent investigation would not only clarify the circumstances surrounding the abduction but also reinforce confidence in Nigeria’s security and justice systems.
Governor Makinde had earlier called for a UN-led investigation into the school abduction, saying an independent inquiry would lend credibility to the findings and address public concerns over the incident.
The kidnapping of students and teachers in Oriire has sparked nationwide outrage and renewed calls for stronger security measures in schools and better protection for pupils, students and educational personnel.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed as false claims circulating in the media by a factional leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafiu Bala, that he had obtained the commission’s access code and uploaded the party’s candidates for the 2027 general election.
The claim, which has been widely shared on social media, suggested that Bala’s faction had successfully completed the upload of candidates on INEC’s nomination portal.
However, when contacted by Daily Trust, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, described the claim as untrue, insisting that Bala is not recognised by the commission as the national chairman of the ADC.
“It is not true,” she said.
A further check by Daily Trust on INEC’s official political parties portal also contradicted Bala’s claim.
The commission’s portal lists Sen. David Mark as the National Chairman of the ADC and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the National Secretary, indicating that they remain the party officials recognised by INEC for the purpose of nominations and other statutory dealings.
The development comes amid the protracted leadership crisis within the ADC, with rival factions laying claim to the party’s national leadership ahead of the 2027 general election.
The controversy has intensified following reports by Bala’s faction that it had secured INEC’s access code and uploaded candidates, a claim now firmly denied by the electoral commission.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has assured its members and supporters nationwide that the recent Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s congresses will not affect its primary elections or the candidates who emerged from the processes.
In a statement issued on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the judgment only relates to the election of its ward, local government and state executive committees and has no impact on the direct primaries conducted by the party.
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) notes the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday in a matter relating to party congresses for the election of ward, local government and state executive committees of the party,” the statement read.
The party stressed that the ruling does not invalidate the emergence of its candidates at any level.
“We wish to assure members of the party and the general public that this judgment has no effect whatsoever on the direct primaries through which the party’s candidates have emerged at all levels,” it said.
The ADC also disclosed that it had begun the process of challenging the judgment at a higher court, insisting that it disagrees with the decision.
“The party has already commenced the process of appealing the judgment, which we respectfully disagree with and consider to be legally unsustainable,” the statement added.
The party further said it took note of the dissenting judgment delivered by the presiding justice, describing it as more consistent with its position and the law.
“We also note the dissenting judgment of the presiding Justice, which, in our view, more accurately reflects the settled position of the law and the party’s position,” it stated.
The ADC appealed to its members and supporters across the country to remain calm and focused despite the court ruling.
“We urge all party members and the millions of our supporters to remain calm, confident and focused,” the statement said.
The party said it would continue to pursue its goal of offering Nigerians a credible alternative through constitutional and lawful means.
“The African Democratic Congress remains committed to the task of providing Nigerians with a credible alternative and will continue to pursue that mission in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law,” the statement added.
