By Idowu Adebomi, Ado Ekiti

The academic credentials of Ekiti State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate, Mrs. Monisade Afuye, have generated fresh controversy ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

The debate followed the release and display of candidates’ credentials by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has fixed June 20, 2026, for the Ekiti governorship poll.

Among the documents made public was the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate submitted by the deputy governor.

According to reports, Mrs. Afuye sat for the WAEC examination at Amoye Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti, in June 1978.

The result showed four subjects, with passes in History and Mathematics, and credits in Economics and Literature-in-English, amounting to two credits and two passes—the only academic certificate she submitted.

The certificate has since attracted mixed reactions from opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which questioned her suitability for the office of deputy governor.

The APC, however, has dismissed the criticisms as politically driven.

In a statement on Sunday, the South-West PDP Publicity Secretary, Chief Sanya Atofarati, described the development as “embarrassing” and a “slap” on Ekiti State, often celebrated as the “Fountain of Knowledge.”

According to him, Ekiti, known for its rich academic and intellectual heritage, deserves better representation.

He argued that it was unsettling for a state reputed for producing scholars and professors to present a deputy governorship candidate with what he termed “a low-level and unconvincing school certificate.”

“What exactly does such a person have to offer when expected to represent the governor at high-level engagements with technocrats and academics?” Atofarati queried, adding that the situation was demeaning to the people of the state.

Similarly, the Ekiti State Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mr. Gboyega Aribisogan, faulted the O’Level result, alleging that questions surrounding Mrs. Afuye’s educational background had lingered since her emergence as APC deputy governorship candidate in 2022.

He claimed that some members of the APC had earlier expressed doubts about her qualifications, alleging that she did not complete her education at the school she claimed to have attended, but instead sat for the GCE as an external candidate. Aribisogan warned that the controversy could resurface and potentially lead to litigation capable of affecting the ambitions of both the governor and his deputy.

Responding, the Ekiti APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Segun Dipe, dismissed the allegations as baseless and a desperate attempt by opposition parties to gain relevance ahead of the June 20 governorship election.

Dipe accused the opposition of sensationalising the deputy governor’s WAEC result to undermine public confidence in the APC, insisting that Mrs. Afuye fully met all constitutional requirements to contest as deputy governor.

He maintained that the APC remained focused on governance and electoral victory, despite what he described as distractions from political opponents.