A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until 28 September a case brought by former vice-president Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) seeking to prevent President Bola Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, lists Mr Tinubu as first defendant, the All Progressives Congress (APC) as second defendant and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as third defendant. Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter for further mention after counsel for the plaintiffs, Joseph Onu, told the court that the originating processes had not been served personally on the President. Attempts by lawyers acting for Mr Tinubu to accept service were declined. The judge also warned the parties against discussing details of the case in the media.
At the heart of the action is an alleged discrepancy in a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate said to have been submitted to INEC. The NYSC is Nigeria’s compulsory one-year national service programme for many university graduates; participants receive a discharge or exemption certificate on completion. In a 25-paragraph affidavit, Mr Abubakar alleged that the certificate linked to Mr Tinubu bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” rather than “Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, and that the document was therefore not one obtained by the President. The plaintiffs contend that presentation of a forged certificate to INEC would breach Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which disqualifies a person from election to the office of President if he has presented a forged certificate to the commission. They also seek production of Mr Tinubu’s Form CF001 for the 2023 and 2027 contests.
The adjournment does not determine the merits of those allegations, which remain unproven before the court. Mr Tinubu and the APC have not yet formally responded in the proceedings.
Opposition figures have separately questioned other academic records associated with the President, including his Chicago State University degree and claims relating to primary and secondary schooling. Those issues featured in earlier election litigation and have been revived in public debate after INEC published nomination documents for 2027. They form part of a wider political contest over eligibility rather than findings already made by this court.
Opponents have also pointed to a 1990s civil forfeiture case in the United States in which funds linked to Mr Tinubu were forfeited in connection with a narcotics investigation. No criminal conviction is recorded in that matter. Related Freedom of Information litigation in the United States over FBI and other agency files remains active, and the President has sought to restrict further disclosure. Those proceedings are separate from the Abuja eligibility suit.
The case returns to court on 28 September. Both Mr Tinubu and Mr Abubakar are expected to be central figures in the 2027 presidential contest.
by John James
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