Court Clears Way for Atiku to Serve Tinubu in 2027 Eligibility Suit

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) permission to serve President Bola Tinubu with court processes through the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a suit challenging his eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the application for substituted service on Wednesday after hearing an ex-parte motion filed by Atiku’s counsel, Olanrewaju Omotayo-Ojo.

The court directed the plaintiffs to serve the documents on Tinubu through the APC within seven days.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, was filed by Atiku and the ADC against Tinubu, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Atiku and the ADC are asking the court to determine whether Tinubu is constitutionally qualified to contest the 2027 presidential election.

The challenge centres on an alleged NYSC discharge certificate which the plaintiffs claim was submitted to INEC and bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, rather than Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Atiku alleges that the certificate is forged and argues that its presentation to INEC falls within the circumstances contemplated by Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution, which deals with the presentation of a forged certificate to INEC.

The plaintiffs are consequently seeking declarations that Tinubu is ineligible to contest the 2027 presidential election and that his candidacy should be affected if the court upholds their claims.

However, the court has not ruled that Tinubu is disqualified, nor has it established that the certificate was forged. Those are allegations and legal questions still before the court.

The latest ruling concerns only the method of serving Tinubu with the originating court processes, allowing the case to proceed despite difficulties previously encountered in personally serving him.

The case has been adjourned until September 28, 2026, for further mention.

Tinubu, the APC and INEC have reportedly filed responses challenging aspects of the suit, including preliminary objections seeking its dismissal.

The court’s eventual determination will establish whether the allegations and constitutional arguments advanced by Atiku and the ADC have sufficient legal basis to affect Tinubu’s eligibility for the 2027 presidential election.