Prominent music executive and entertainment entrepreneur, Jude Okoye, has sparked national conversation following his public call for urgent reform of Nigeria’s electoral law. In a recent Instagram Story post that has since gone viral, the elder brother to singer Peter and Paul Okoye (P-Square) questioned the logic behind allowing individuals without tertiary education to occupy top political offices in the country.
“How hard is it to reform our electoral act making at least a Uni bachelors degree a benchmark for qualification to run for any office in Nigeria?” Okoye wrote. “We can’t have the uneducated leading the educated. Makes zero sense.”
The post, tagged #ElectoralReform and #NAS, appears to be a direct appeal to the National Assembly to review the requirements for public office holders, especially in light of the ongoing debates around competence, governance, and the intellectual capacity of political actors in Africa’s most populous nation.
The music mogul’s statement has drawn mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians agreeing that raising the academic benchmark could improve leadership quality, while others caution that leadership should be measured by integrity and competence, not just academic papers.
Political analysts have long debated whether academic qualifications should be a determinant for political leadership, especially in a country like Nigeria where the Constitution permits minimal requirements — such as basic literacy or school certificate level — to contest high-level offices, including the presidency.
Jude Okoye’s call adds to the growing chorus demanding a more robust and intentional leadership recruitment process ahead of future elections.
As Nigeria prepares for another political cycle, his message is a loud reminder that electoral reform is no longer a backburner conversation, but a pressing national necessity.
