A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until September 28 further proceedings in a suit seeking to stop President Bola Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election over alleged certificate forgery.
The suit, filed by former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, also joined the ADC as a plaintiff, while Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are defendants.
Atiku alleged in a 25-paragraph affidavit that Tinubu submitted a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to INEC. He claimed the certificate bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle,” which he said is not the President’s correct name.
Atiku further alleged that Tinubu had used the disputed certificate since 1999, when he contested the Lagos State governorship election. He is asking the court to declare that the alleged submission violated Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution and to disqualify Tinubu and the APC from the 2027 presidential election.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, Tinubu’s lawyer, Omosanya Popoola, announced his appearance, but Atiku’s counsel, Joseph Onu, said the plaintiffs had yet to personally serve the President with the court papers.
INEC’s counsel, Alex Iziyon, SAN, argued that the appearance of Tinubu’s lawyer was sufficient, while urging an expedited hearing.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, however, said he could not dictate how the plaintiffs should conduct their case and adjourned the matter to September 28 for mention.
The judge also warned all parties against discussing details of the pending case in the media, stressing that the matter must be conducted in court.
