FHC Abuja: Atiku Suit Tinubu NYSC Certificate 2027 Hearing Set

• The Federal High Court in Abuja has set September 28 for further proceedings in a suit challenging President Bola Tinubu's eligibility for the 2027 presidential election.
• Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) allege that President Tinubu submitted a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate to INEC.
• Atiku's affidavit claims the NYSC certificate bears the name "Tinubu Bola Adekunle" and was used by Tinubu since his 1999 Lagos State governorship bid.
• The plaintiffs are seeking President Tinubu's disqualification from the 2027 election based on alleged breaches of Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2026.
• A procedural issue arose in court regarding the formal service of the suit documents on President Tinubu, with Atiku's lawyer insisting on personal or substituted service.

This high-profile Atiku suit Tinubu NYSC certificate 2027 challenge underscores the ongoing scrutiny of candidate eligibility in Nigerian politics.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled September 28 for further proceedings in a significant legal challenge aimed at preventing President Bola Tinubu from seeking re-election in 2027. This case, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, centers on allegations of certificate forgery against the incumbent president. The suit was initiated by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election. The ADC is listed as the second plaintiff in the action.

The legal action names President Tinubu as the first defendant, with his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) designated as the second and third defendants, respectively. Atiku Abubakar's primary contention revolves around the authenticity of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate allegedly submitted by President Tinubu to INEC. This high-profile Atiku suit Tinubu NYSC certificate 2027 challenge underscores the ongoing scrutiny of candidate eligibility in Nigerian politics.

In a 25-paragraph affidavit personally deposed to, Atiku Abubakar asserts that President Tinubu provided false information regarding himself in Form CF0001, which was tendered to INEC. A key piece of evidence cited by the plaintiffs is an NYSC certificate bearing the name "Tinubu Bola Adekunle." Atiku contends that this certificate could not have been obtained by the first defendant, as it purportedly belongs to an individual named Adekunle. The document in question has been marked as Exhibit P2 and is reportedly still held in INEC's custody.

Atiku further alleges that this specific NYSC certificate is a forgery, given that "Adekunle" is not part of President Tinubu's name, yet it was presented to INEC as genuine. The former Vice President claims that President Tinubu has been using this allegedly forged certificate since 1999, when he first contested for the governorship of Lagos State. This Tinubu certificate forgery suit seeks to establish a pattern of misrepresentation that could impact his future electoral eligibility.

The plaintiffs have posed several critical legal questions to the court. They seek a determination on whether, in light of limitations outlined in sections 138(1)(a) & (b) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and section 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), they are permitted to enforce the binding provisions of Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution. This constitutional section, they argue, applies to all presidential aspirants.

Furthermore, the suit asks the court to decide if President Tinubu and the APC should be disqualified from the 2023 and 2027 Presidential Elections for presenting a forged NYSC certificate to INEC, thereby breaching Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution. Should these legal questions be resolved in their favor, the plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that President Tinubu presented a forged certificate to INEC during his 1999 Lagos State governorship bid, violating Section 137(1)(j). Ultimately, they request an order disqualifying both President Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 Presidential Election based on this alleged historical certificate forgery. This Atiku Abubakar 2027 eligibility challenge highlights the strict requirements for Nigerian presidential election eligibility.

During the recent court session on Tuesday, a team of lawyers led by Mr. Omosanya Popoola announced their representation for President Tinubu. However, Mr. Joseph Onu, counsel for Atiku Abubakar, informed the court that his team had been unable to formally serve President Tinubu with the suit documents. Despite Mr. Popoola's assurance that President Tinubu had granted him authority to act on his behalf, Mr. Onu maintained that, due to the sensitive nature of the case, his client preferred to ensure personal service of the legal process.

Alternatively, he indicated a preference for securing a court order for substituted service, emphasizing the importance of avoiding any technicalities that could undermine the proceedings. This procedural hurdle underscores the meticulous approach required in high-stakes litigation concerning Nigerian presidential election eligibility.

This high-profile case underscores the ongoing legal challenges to presidential eligibility in Nigeria, specifically concerning educational credentials. Lawyers should monitor its progression for potential precedents on electoral law interpretation, the standard of proof for certificate forgery, and its implications for future candidate vetting and election petitions.

Source: Original reporting via news agency.