Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the disqualification of President Bola Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over an alleged forged National Youth Service Corps certificate.
The suit, filed against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission, was accompanied by an affidavit personally sworn to by Atiku at the court registry on Friday.
Atiku Invokes Constitutional Provisions
Atiku is relying on provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Electoral Act 2026, particularly Section 137(1)(j), which bars a person who has presented a forged certificate to INEC from contesting for the presidency.
According to the former vice president, the NYSC discharge certificate allegedly submitted to INEC bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” instead of the President’s name, “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
RELATED NEWS:
- INEC Begins Public Display of Presidential Candidates’ Credentials, Uploads Tinubu, Shettima’s Records
- Nnaji Forgery Scandal: Atiku Demands Probe into Tinubu, Ministers’ Certificates
- Live Electronic Transmission of Result: Hoax or Reality?
He further alleged that the certificate was not obtained by Tinubu but was submitted as part of the documents supporting his 2027 presidential candidacy.
Atiku is also asking the court to compel INEC to produce Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted for the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.
He said he had earlier requested certified true copies of the relevant documents from INEC but did not receive them before filing the suit.
‘Now it is President Tinubu’s Turn to Answer’
Atiku said he personally appeared at the court registry because of the importance of the case.
“I came here personally because the issues before the court go to the heart of our Constitution and the integrity of the office of President.
“I have therefore put my name, my signature and my oath behind the facts we are presenting to the court. Now it is President Tinubu’s turn to answer them,” he said.
The ADC candidate said the matter should be determined by the courts based on evidence rather than political arguments or social media exchanges.
He also urged INEC to demonstrate its neutrality by producing the electoral documents requested.
Atiku Seeks Tinubu’s Disqualification
Among the reliefs sought by Atiku is an order disqualifying Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election if the allegations are established.
Atiku argued that the authenticity of certificates presented by presidential candidates should be subjected to the same constitutional scrutiny applicable to other Nigerians.
APC Dismisses Suit
Reacting to the suit, APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, dismissed it as an exercise in futility.
According to a report by PUNCH, Basiru said Tinubu was qualified to contest the election and urged Atiku to prepare for another electoral contest.
“The President is qualified to contest the election; there is nothing disqualifying him, and the matter has been settled by the Supreme Court,” he said.
ADC Chieftain Petition European Commission
Meanwhile, ADC chieftain and legal counsel, Kalu Agu, separately petitioned the European Commission in Brussels over the alleged submission of forged documents by Tinubu to INEC.
Agu alleged that Tinubu submitted false academic credentials and failed to disclose the primary and secondary schools he attended in documents filed with INEC.
He argued that the alleged submission of forged certificates violated Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution.
Presidency Dismisses EU Petition
However, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, dismissed the petition to the European Commission, describing it as another distraction from opposition forces.
“The opposition is on a wild goose chase in Europe. They would do everything possible to distract and avoid answering the very one question: What would you do differently from this government?” Bwala said in a post on X on Friday.
The allegations remain subject to determination by the court.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.