Justice Ekwo Directs Documents Be Served Through APC Within Seven Days
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that President Bola Tinubu be served within seven days with a suit filed by former Vice-President and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar challenging his eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Ekwo approved substituted service of the court processes on President Tinubu through his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), after an application by Atiku’s counsel.
Atiku and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are seeking president Tinubu’s disqualification over an allegation that a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate bearing the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” was submitted to INEC.
In a 25-paragraph affidavit, Atiku alleged that the certificate was forged and that President Tinubu provided false information in documents submitted to INEC. The allegations have not been determined by the court.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether the alleged submission of the certificate violates Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution and whether President Tinubu and the APC should be disqualified from participating in the 2027 presidential election.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, names President Tinubu, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the first to third defendants respectively.
The court had earlier fixed September 28 for further proceedings after the plaintiffs said they had been unable to personally serve Tinubu with the originating processes.
INEC has filed processes challenging the competence of the suit and seeking its dismissal. Tinubu’s lawyers, Akin Olujinmi, SAN, and Wole Olanipekun, SAN, have also challenged the case, including Atiku’s legal standing to bring the action.
Olujinmi argued that the suit was statute-barred under the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, while both lawyers questioned Atiku’s locus standi. President Tinubu and APC have also denied submitting a forged certificate to INEC and argued that the allegation requires proof.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter to September 28 for mention.