Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to disqualify President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election, citing an alleged discrepancy in the name on an NYSC certificate purportedly submitted to INEC.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), personally appeared at the court registry on Friday to depose to an affidavit supporting the suit filed against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The suit invokes relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Electoral Act 2026. At its core is Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution, which disqualifies a presidential candidate who presents a forged certificate to INEC.
Atiku and the ADC allege that Tinubu submitted an NYSC discharge certificate bearing the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, rather than “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” They are asking the court to determine whether the certificate belongs to the President and whether the alleged discrepancy amounts to grounds for disqualification.
The plaintiffs have also asked INEC to produce certified copies of Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted for the 2023 and 2027 elections.
Atiku said his decision to personally swear to the affidavit was deliberate, stressing that the matter concerns the integrity of the presidency and the supremacy of the Constitution.
He said the case should be determined by the courts rather than through political arguments or social media debates.
Beyond the certificate issue, Atiku and the ADC are challenging provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 which they contend restrict the ability of candidates to challenge the qualification of another candidate before an election.
They argue that ordinary legislation cannot override constitutional provisions, insisting that where the Electoral Act conflicts with the Constitution, the Constitution must prevail.
Atiku said the case was ultimately about ensuring that all presidential candidates are subjected to the same constitutional standards.
“Nobody is above the Constitution — not Atiku Abubakar, not Bola Tinubu, and certainly not the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
The plaintiffs’ legal team, led by Edwin Inegedu, SAN, and Joseph Onu Silas, said they were confident in their case and prepared to respond to the defence once the defendants are served.