Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has instituted a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election over an alleged forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.
Atiku personally appeared at the court registry on Friday to depose to an affidavit supporting the suit against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The legal action is based on provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, including Section 137(1)(j), as well as relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
Section 137(1)(j) provides that a person is not qualified to be elected President if the person has presented a forged certificate to INEC.
Disputed NYSC Certificate at Centre of Suit
Atiku and the ADC allege that an NYSC discharge certificate submitted to INEC in connection with Tinubu’s presidential candidacy bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, rather than “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
They further allege that the certificate was not obtained by Tinubu and have asked the court to determine its authenticity and the legal consequences of the disputed document.
The allegations have not been judicially established, and the case will now require the court to examine the evidence and determine whether the claims have merit.
Atiku is also asking the court to compel INEC to produce Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted for the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.
According to the former Vice President, he had previously requested certified true copies of relevant documents from INEC but had not received them before filing the suit.
Atiku: “The Presidency Is Not an Immunity Certificate”
Explaining his decision to personally appear at the court registry, Atiku said the matter concerns the constitutional requirements for occupying the highest political office in the country.
He said the dispute should be determined by evidence and the judiciary rather than political arguments or social media exchanges.
Atiku maintained that the electoral commission, which holds the relevant documents, should make them available for judicial examination.
He also argued that Nigerians deserve clarity concerning the eligibility of presidential candidates before the 2027 election.
Suit Challenges Electoral Act Provisions
Beyond the certificate issue, Atiku and the ADC are challenging provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 which they contend restrict the ability of candidates and political parties to challenge the qualification of presidential candidates before an election.
They argue that ordinary legislation cannot override constitutional provisions governing presidential qualification.
The plaintiffs are therefore asking the Federal High Court to determine whether the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act can prevent them from invoking Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution.
Among the reliefs being sought is an order disqualifying Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election if the allegations are established.
APC Dismisses Suit
The APC has rejected the legal challenge, describing it as an exercise in futility.
The party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, told Saturday PUNCH that Tinubu remains qualified to contest the 2027 election and argued that issues surrounding his eligibility had already been settled by the Supreme Court.
Basiru challenged Atiku to prepare for the election rather than seek what he described as a shortcut to power.
ADC Chieftain Petitions European Commission
Separately, ADC chieftain and legal counsel Kalu Agu submitted a petition against Tinubu to the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium.
Agu alleged that Tinubu submitted false academic credentials to INEC and also questioned information concerning the schools allegedly listed in documents submitted to the electoral commission.
He argued that the alleged submission of forged certificates would contravene Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution.
However, Presidential Special Adviser on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, dismissed the European petition as an opposition distraction.
The twin developments — Atiku’s court action in Abuja and the petition to the European Commission — have added a fresh legal and political dimension to the emerging battle over the 2027 presidential election.
The Federal High Court will now be expected to consider the issues raised by the plaintiffs, while the defendants will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
For now, the claims concerning the disputed certificate remain allegations rather than established facts.
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