Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dragged President Bola Tinubu before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to disqualify him from the 2027 presidential election over allegations of submitting a forged National Youth Service Corps certificate.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, personally appeared at the court registry on Friday to swear an affidavit supporting the suit, which names President Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as respondents.
The legal action rests on Sections 137(1)(j), 139(1)(a)(i) and 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, alongside relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
At its core, Section 137(1)(j) explicitly disqualifies anyone found to have presented a forged certificate to INEC from standing for election as President. Plaintiffs argue the document allegedly submitted bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, which differs from the President’s known legal name, “Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, and claim the certificate was never genuinely obtained by him.
Atiku further seeks a court order compelling INEC to produce Form CF001 documents submitted by Tinubu for both the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.
He disclosed that he had previously requested certified true copies of these records directly from INEC but received no response, prompting him to approach the judiciary for enforcement.
“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,” Atiku stated, explaining his decision to depose to the affidavit in person rather than through representation.
The suit also raises a constitutional challenge to certain provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which Atiku and the ADC argue improperly restrict pre-election qualification challenges.
They contend that where an Act of the National Assembly conflicts with the Constitution, the supreme law must prevail, and no legislation can create an “escape route” from binding presidential qualification standards. This, Atiku argued, is a fundamental question for Nigeria’s democracy: whether ordinary laws can shield a candidate from clear constitutional requirements.
Speaking on the proper forum for the dispute, Atiku emphasised that the case should not be decided through political arguments, media exchanges, or social media campaigns.
“We are not asking Nigerians to decide this matter online, and we are not asking INEC to become a court,” he said.
Instead, he urged INEC to demonstrate neutrality by releasing the relevant records and allowing the judiciary to examine all evidence, resolve the discrepancy in names, and pronounce on the document’s authenticity.
“The presidency is not an immunity certificate against constitutional scrutiny,” Atiku declared, insisting that every candidate must meet the same standards applied to ordinary citizens.
Among the reliefs sought is a formal order disqualifying Tinubu and the APC from the 2027 race should the court uphold the allegations.
