Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has filed a legal action against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over an alleged forgery of his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to disqualify the president from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku, who is expected to contest the 2027 election under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), filed the suit jointly with the party on Friday. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were joined as defendants.
The former vice-president also personally appeared at the court registry in Abuja to depose to an affidavit supporting the case.
According to Atiku and the ADC, the suit centres on constitutional requirements for eligibility to occupy the office of president. They are challenging Tinubu’s qualification under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
At the heart of the case is Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution, which provides that a person is not qualified to be elected president if they have presented a forged certificate to INEC.
The plaintiffs allege that the NYSC discharge certificate submitted to INEC by Tinubu bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, which they argue differs from the name Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Atiku and the ADC are asking the court to determine whether the alleged discrepancies and other claims contained in their suit are sufficient grounds to disqualify Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election.
They have also asked the court to compel INEC to produce Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted in connection with the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.
The plaintiffs said they had previously requested certified true copies of relevant documents from INEC but had not received a response before filing the suit.
Explaining why he personally appeared at the court registry, Atiku said the case involved issues that went beyond ordinary political disagreement and touched directly on constitutional requirements and the integrity of the presidency.
“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 said.
He added that he had formally attached his name, signature and oath to the claims presented before the court and expected President Tinubu to respond through the judicial process.
The suit also raises questions about provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 which, according to the plaintiffs, could restrict challenges to a candidate’s eligibility before an election.
Atiku and the ADC argue that legislation passed by the National Assembly cannot override an express constitutional provision. They are therefore asking the court to determine whether any statutory restriction can prevent them from relying on Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution.
The plaintiffs are ultimately seeking an order preventing Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election if the court establishes the allegations and finds that the constitutional requirements for eligibility have not been met.
Atiku said he wanted the dispute resolved through the courts rather than through political arguments or social media speculation.
“We are not asking Nigerians to decide this matter on social media, and we are not asking INEC to become a court,” he said. “We are asking the institution holding the records to produce them and the judiciary to examine the evidence and pronounce on it.”
Counsel representing the plaintiffs, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Edwin Inegedu and Joseph Onu Silas, expressed confidence in the case after reviewing the relevant constitutional and electoral provisions.
Silas said the proceedings could also provide the courts with an opportunity to clarify important aspects of Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence.
The case is now before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the issues raised by Atiku and the ADC will be subject to judicial consideration.
The outcome could have significant implications for the 2027 presidential election, particularly if the court is asked to determine how constitutional provisions on forged certificates interact with the Electoral Act and the process for challenging a presidential candidate’s eligibility.
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