The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until September 28, 2026, a suit filed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar seeking to prevent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, was filed by Atiku, a presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with the party joined as the second plaintiff. Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are listed as the first, second and third defendants respectively.

Tinubu Reveals Why Military Force Alone Can’t Secure North Central

Atiku’s case is centred on an allegation that Tinubu submitted a forged NYSC discharge certificate to INEC. In an affidavit supporting the suit, Atiku alleged that the disputed certificate bore the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, which he argued was not the President’s correct name. The plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether the alleged submission violated constitutional requirements for presidential eligibility.

The plaintiffs are also seeking an order declaring that Tinubu breached the Constitution by allegedly presenting the disputed certificate during his 1999 Lagos State governorship bid and an order stopping Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election on that basis.

Dispute Over Service Of Court Processes

When the case came up before Justice Inyang Ekwo on Tuesday, a legal team led by Omosanya Popoola announced its appearance for President Tinubu.

However, Atiku’s lawyer, Joseph Onu, told the court that Tinubu had not been personally served with the court processes. Popoola maintained that Tinubu had authorised him to represent him, while Onu argued that the nature of the case required proper service on the President.

Onu said the plaintiffs were prepared to accept service through Tinubu’s counsel if there was a written undertaking confirming the lawyer’s authority to receive the processes on his behalf.

INEC’s counsel, Alex Iziyon, SAN, opposed the position, arguing that the presence of Tinubu’s legal representative demonstrated that the President was already aware of the case. He urged the court to expedite the proceedings, noting that more than 17 days had passed since the suit was filed.

Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned the matter until September 28 for further proceedings.

The judge also warned the parties and their lawyers against discussing the details of the pending case in the media or on social media, stressing that the matter should be determined through the judicial process.