Court Fixes November 20 To Rule On Atiku’s Bid To Amend Suit Against Tinubu

President Tinubu, APC and INEC oppose proposed changes to ADC-backed case challenging his eligibility for the 2027 presidential election

By Henryrich Ojo | Newsworld

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed November 20, 2026, to rule on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s application to amend his suit seeking to prevent President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) from participating in the 2027 presidential election.

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Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo set the date on Tuesday after hearing arguments from lawyers representing Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Tinubu, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The application, filed by Atiku and the ADC on September 10, seeks permission to revise their originating summons and update documents supporting their allegations concerning the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate submitted by Tinubu to INEC.

Atiku’s lawyer, Joseph Silas Onu, urged the court to approve the amendments, explaining that they were intended to correct errors in the original filings, provide additional particulars of the alleged fraud, include Atiku’s written deposition and attach clearer copies of exhibits.

The applicants also sought to correct a reference to an INEC form, which they said was incorrectly identified as Form CF001 instead of Form EC9A. However, Tinubu’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun, opposed the application, arguing that the parties had already joined issues and that the proposed changes went beyond correcting errors. Lawyers representing the APC and INEC also urged the court to reject the request, contending that it could introduce new facts or a new cause of action.

The substantive suit challenges Tinubu’s participation in the 2027 presidential election over questions raised by Atiku and the ADC about the NYSC discharge certificate submitted to INEC. The plaintiffs allege that the certificate was forged and contend that the name appearing on it differs from the name by which the President is known.

Tinubu and the APC have denied the allegations and asked the court to dismiss the case. Their legal team and INEC have also argued that the suit was filed outside the applicable constitutional deadline, citing the submission of Tinubu’s name to INEC on July 11 and the filing of the suit on August 14. The court’s November 20 ruling will determine whether Atiku and the ADC can amend their case; it will not, by itself, decide the substantive allegations.