Court sets 7-day window for Atiku to serve Tinubu in 2027 suit

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that President Bola Tinubu be served within seven days with a suit filed by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar challenging his eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election over allegations concerning a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.

Justice Inyang Ekwo granted an application for substituted service, permitting the court processes to be served on Tinubu through his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, was instituted by Atiku, with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the second plaintiff. Tinubu, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are listed as the first, second and third defendants respectively.

Atiku’s case centres on an allegation that an NYSC discharge certificate allegedly submitted to INEC by Tinubu was forged.

In a 25-paragraph affidavit personally deposed to by Atiku, the former vice-president alleged that the document carried the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle.”

The plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether Tinubu and the APC should be disqualified from participating in the 2027 presidential election based on the alleged presentation of a forged certificate.

The allegations have been contested by Tinubu and the APC.

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Recent court processes filed on their behalf seek dismissal of the suit, with the defendants disputing the allegation that a forged certificate was submitted to INEC. Reports on the proceedings also indicate that Tinubu’s legal team has challenged the competence of the case and Atiku’s standing to institute it.

Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Chief Akin Olujinmi and Chief Wole Olanipekun, have separately filed processes indicating their representation of the President in the matter.

INEC has also challenged the competence of the suit and asked the court to dismiss it. The electoral commission had earlier urged the court to expedite proceedings, saying it was prepared to file its defence.

Hearing fixed for September 28

The court had earlier adjourned the matter to September 28, 2026, after proceedings were delayed by issues surrounding service of the originating processes on Tinubu.

Justice Ekwo had also warned lawyers involved in the case against discussing the proceedings in the media or on social media, stressing that the matter should be determined in court.

Plaintiffs seek amendment

Meanwhile, Atiku and the ADC have applied to amend portions of their originating summons.

The plaintiffs said the amendment was necessary to correct the description of an INEC form referred to in their filings. The relevant document was initially described as Form CF001, but the plaintiffs are seeking to replace that reference with Form EC9.

The legal dispute is therefore set to proceed on two fronts: the preliminary challenges to the competence and standing of the case, and the substantive allegations surrounding the certificate and Tinubu’s eligibility for the 2027 presidential election.

No finding of forgery or disqualification has been made by the court at this stage, and the allegations remain subject to judicial determination.