Court told to disqualify Tinubu from 2027 presidential race
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over alleged issues surrounding his name and NYSC certificate.
Atiku personally visited the court registry on Friday, August 14, 2026, where he swore to an affidavit supporting the legal action filed against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The case was filed by Atiku and the ADC under provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Electoral Act 2026.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether Tinubu meets the constitutional requirements to contest the next presidential election.
A major part of the case concerns Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution, which deals with the use of forged certificates by presidential candidates.
Atiku’s legal team is asking the court to examine an NYSC certificate allegedly submitted to INEC in Tinubu’s name.
According to the affidavit, the document bears the name Tinubu Bola Adekunle instead of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The plaintiffs are questioning whether the certificate was genuinely obtained by the President and whether the different name on the document affects his qualification to contest the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.
The legal action also seeks access to Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted to INEC for both elections.
Atiku said the electoral commission had been notified to produce certified copies of the relevant documents, but the requested records were not available to him before the case was filed.
Atiku’s position is that the matter should be settled through the courts and official records rather than political arguments.
He wants the documents held by INEC to be presented so that the court can determine the facts surrounding the certificate and the names attached to it.
The former vice president is also challenging parts of the Electoral Act 2026.
His legal team argued that some of its provisions may restrict attempts to challenge a presidential candidate’s qualification before an election.
The plaintiffs contend that an ordinary law passed by the National Assembly cannot prevent Nigerians from relying on a right or condition expressly provided by the Constitution.
They are asking the court to determine whether the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act can stop them from challenging Tinubu’s eligibility under Section 137(1)(j).
The suit further asks the Federal High Court to disqualify Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election if the court finds that the allegations made by Atiku and the ADC have been established.
Atiku also placed responsibility on INEC to provide the relevant electoral documents and maintain its neutrality in the matter.
He argued that the commission, as the institution keeping the records, should make them available for judicial examination regardless of the political interests involved.
The former vice president’s personal appearance at the registry was presented as part of his decision to formally stand behind the allegations contained in the case.
He has also submitted himself to the legal process and sworn to the facts contained in his affidavit.
The case now places Tinubu, the APC and INEC in a position to respond to the allegations and arguments presented by the plaintiffs.
The court will have to determine whether the claims can proceed and whether the constitutional and electoral issues raised by Atiku have legal merit.
Counsel representing Atiku and the ADC, Edwin Inegedu, SAN, and Joseph Onu Silas, said the legal team had examined the relevant laws and prepared its case.
They are expected to respond to the arguments of the defendants once the parties are formally served with the court processes.
