Taraba senator faces APC petition over alleged forged NECO certificate

David Jimkuta of Taraba South is facing a petition seeking his disqualification from the 2027 senatorial race over allegations that he submitted forged National Examinations Council (NECO) certificates to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Adamu Ibrahim, a retired major general, who lost the APC senatorial primary to Mr Jimkuta, wrote the petition.

Dated 21 September and addressed to the APC national chairman, the petition accused the senator of submitting forged examination certificates and making false declarations in his nomination documents submitted to the party and INEC.

Mr Ibrahim alleged that the documents were attached to Mr Jimkuta’s declaration of interest and nomination forms to attest to his qualification to contest the 2027 election.

Mr Jimkuta is the sitting senator representing the Taraba South District.

Classmates dispute allegation

However, members of the 2000 graduating set of Government Secondary School (GSS), Wukari, have debunked the allegation concerning the senator’s secondary school credentials.
The former classmates said they returned to the school and examined available records after learning of the petition.

Haruna Magaji, a member of the set, said Mr Jimkuta’s name appeared as number 98 on the list of students in the 2000 graduating set.

“We have once again visited the GSS to be sure of what Gen. Ibrahim has petitioned against the senator. We collected the gazette and conducted a thorough check. Senator David Jimkuta’s name is number 98 on our list,” Mr Magaji said.

The group said Mr Jimkuta graduated with them in 2000 and that their set was the first in the school to sit the NECO examination.

The classmates included Zakaria Luka, Emmanuel Audu, Manasseh Wunuji, Haruna Magaji and Habibu Isyaka, according to reports of their briefing in Jalingo.

The alumni’s confirmation that Mr Jimkuta attended and graduated from GSS Wukari, however, does not by itself establish whether the particular NECO certificate submitted to APC or INEC is authentic. That question would require verification against the relevant school and examination records.

Demand for evidence

The controversy has also prompted calls for Mr Ibrahim to present evidence to support the allegation.

Obadiah Orobo, an associate of Mr Jimkuta, challenged the retired senior army officer to prove his allegation.

Mr Orobo said the appropriate authorities, including the school and NECO, should clear the air so that the allegation does not become a political verdict.

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“If there is evidence that Senator Jimkuta forged any certificate, let that evidence be presented to the appropriate authorities,” he said.

The dispute comes as Mr Jimkuta prepares for the 2027 election after emerging as the APC candidate for Taraba South. INEC’s published candidate list also identifies him as the APC candidate for the senatorial district.