Atiku Drags Tinubu to Court

…Seeks Disqualification Over Alleged Forged NYSC Certificate

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over an alleged forged NYSC certificate.

Atiku personally appeared at the court registry on Friday to depose to an affidavit supporting the suit filed against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The suit relies, among other provisions, on Sections 137(1)(j), 139(1)(a)(i) and 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

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

Atiku and the ADC are asking the court to determine whether Tinubu and the APC should be disqualified from the 2027 presidential election based on their allegation that the President submitted a forged NYSC discharge certificate to INEC in connection with the 2023 and 2027 elections.

In his affidavit, Atiku alleged that an NYSC discharge certificate submitted to INEC bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, rather than “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

He further alleged that the same certificate was submitted in connection with the 2027 presidential election and maintained that the document was not obtained by Tinubu.

The allegations are contained in court processes and are yet to be judicially determined.

Speaking after taking the oath, Atiku said he personally appeared at the registry because of the constitutional significance 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,” he said.

Atiku also urged INEC to produce Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted for the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections, saying the electoral body had not responded to his earlier request for certified true copies of the documents.

He said the matter should be determined by the courts rather than through political arguments or social media debates.

“We are not asking Nigerians to decide this matter on social media, and we are not asking INEC to become a court. We are asking the institution holding the records to produce them and the judiciary to examine the evidence and pronounce on it,” Atiku said.

Beyond the alleged certificate issue, Atiku and the ADC are also challenging provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026 which they contend restrict the ability to challenge the qualification of a presidential candidate at the pre-election stage.

The plaintiffs argue that an Act of the National Assembly cannot override an express provision of the Constitution, maintaining that the Constitution remains supreme where there is a conflict between the two.

The originating summons consequently asks the Federal High Court to determine whether the statutory restrictions can prevent the plaintiffs from relying on Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution.

Among the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs is an order disqualifying Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election if the allegations are established.

Atiku said the case was intended to ensure that all presidential aspirants are subjected to the same constitutional standards.

“The Presidency is not an immunity certificate against constitutional scrutiny,” he said.

He also called on INEC to demonstrate its neutrality by making relevant electoral records available to the court.

“INEC is holding the documents. The court has the jurisdiction to examine the issues. President Tinubu has the opportunity to defend himself. That is the constitutional process, and nobody should be afraid of it,” Atiku said.

Counsel to the plaintiffs, Edwin Inegedu, SAN, and Joseph Onu Silas, said the legal team had reviewed the relevant laws and was confident in its case.

Silas said the suit presented an opportunity to further develop Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence, adding that the team was prepared to respond to the defendants’ case once served.

“This is not about privilege, personalities or presidential power. It is about one Constitution and one standard for every Nigerian,” he said.
The case now awaits further proceedings before the Federal High Court.