2027: Atiku asks court to disqualify Tinubu over alleged NYSC certificate forgery

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has sued President Bola Tinubu over the alleged forgery of his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, seeking his disqualification from the 2027 presidential election.

Atiku and the ADC filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) joined as defendants.

Atiku also personally appeared at the court registry to depose to an affidavit in support of the suit, saying the case concerns the constitutional requirements for eligibility to occupy the office of president.

The plaintiffs are challenging Tinubu’s eligibility under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Electoral Act, 2026.

At the centre of their case is Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution, which provides that a person is not qualified for election as president if they have presented a forged certificate to INEC.

According to the affidavit, the NYSC certificate submitted to INEC bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, which the plaintiffs contend differs from Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s name.

Atiku and the ADC are asking the court to determine whether Tinubu and the APC should be disqualified from participating in the 2027 presidential election if the allegations are established.

They are also seeking an order compelling INEC to produce Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted for the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.

The plaintiffs said Atiku had previously applied for certified true copies of the relevant documents but had not received a response before the suit was filed.

Speaking after deposing to the affidavit, Atiku said he personally appeared at the court registry because of the constitutional implications of the case.

“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 the matter should be resolved by the courts rather than through political arguments or social media speculation.

The suit also challenges provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, which the plaintiffs argue restrict the ability to challenge a candidate’s qualification at the pre-election stage.

They contend that the National Assembly cannot override an express provision of the Constitution and are asking the court to determine whether the statutory restrictions can prevent them from relying on Section 137(1)(j).

The plaintiffs are consequently seeking an order disqualifying Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election on the grounds contained in the suit.

Counsel to the plaintiffs, Edwin Inegedu, SAN, and Joseph Onu Silas, expressed confidence in the case, saying it could also provide an opportunity for the courts to further clarify Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence.