Alex Sigman: The controversial ‘schoolmate’ in Tinubu’s academic drama

The name Alex Sigman has recently entered Nigeria’s political lexicon, following remarks made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in an attempt to defend the authenticity of his academic records from Chicago State University (CSU).

The president claimed that Sigman was his classmate at CSU, an assertion that has stirred confusion, media interest, and fresh doubts in the long-running drama over his educational credentials.

Despite Tinubu’s insistence, no verifiable public records, credible media reports, or court documents have confirmed the existence of an Alex Sigman who attended CSU during the late 1970s, let alone as a classmate of the Nigerian leader.

The few people named Alex Sigman in public professional databases are linked to completely different institutions—such as Indiana State University and San José State University—and have no known connection to CSU or Nigeria.

The controversy reignited interest in Tinubu’s long-disputed academic history, which has been the subject of court proceedings both in Nigeria and the United States.

Over the past two years, several individuals have come forward to affirm Tinubu’s attendance at CSU. Among the most prominent is Durojaiye Ogunsanya, a classmate who studied Accounting alongside Tinubu and confirmed their 1979 graduation from the university.

Ogunsanya’s statements, backed by CSU’s registrar and university documents, have been considered more credible due to their traceability and the willingness of witnesses to testify under oath.

What complicates matters is Tinubu’s spontaneous mention of “Alex Sigman,” which came without context or verification.

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Instead of strengthening his case, the remark has drawn ridicule and skepticism. Many political observers have asked: If there is no trace of this person in CSU records or among known Nigerian alumni, why would the president make such a claim? Some believe it may have been an effort to casually lend personal weight to his story, while others argue it may reflect confusion or a tactical misstep.

In a political climate where misinformation spreads rapidly, the idea of a mystery classmate adds a dramatic but unnecessary twist. Legal and media analysts argue that the focus should remain on documented facts—like verified classmates, CSU’s official response, and recent lawsuits—not on unverifiable characters.

Earlier this year, a lawsuit was filed in the U.S. asking that Tinubu’s CSU degree be revoked based on claims that the certificate was obtained using forged secondary school documents. That legal process, which continues to unfold, poses a far greater threat to Tinubu’s credibility than the alleged identity of a long-lost classmate.

At present, no authoritative source has validated the existence of Alex Sigman as Tinubu’s classmate. The claim remains unsupported and widely viewed as a distraction from more pressing questions about how Tinubu obtained and presented his academic credentials.

Meanwhile, verified individuals like Ogunsanya continue to serve as more reliable reference points in the debate over Tinubu’s educational history.

As the saga unfolds, it becomes clearer that name-dropping unverifiable individuals may only deepen public mistrust. For a presidency already facing numerous legal and political challenges, re-centering the discourse on verifiable facts may be the only way to navigate through the storm.