President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar challenging Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election over an alleged forged NYSC discharge certificate.
President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit seeking to disqualify the president from contesting the 2027 presidential election over an alleged forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.
The case was instituted by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the ADC.
Atiku and the party are challenging Tinubu’s eligibility on the allegation that a National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate bearing the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” was presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The plaintiffs are relying on Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides for disqualification where a candidate presents a forged certificate to INEC.
Tinubu and the APC have, however, rejected the allegation and urged the court to dismiss the case.
In their counter-affidavit filed in the proceedings, the president and the APC denied submitting a forged NYSC certificate to INEC. They also challenged the competence of the suit and Atiku’s legal standing to institute the action.
The defendants further disputed the allegation that they submitted the relevant Form CF001 to INEC for the 2023 or 2027 election, as alleged by the plaintiffs.
The legal dispute has also generated procedural developments. On September 16, 2026, the Federal High Court granted Atiku permission to serve Tinubu with the originating processes through the APC after attempts to personally serve the president were unsuccessful.
Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered that the documents be served within seven days and adjourned the matter until September 28 for mention.
INEC, which is also a defendant in the case, has separately challenged the competence of the suit. The electoral commission has raised issues including statute bar, lack of locus standi, absence of a reasonable cause of action and alleged abuse of court process.
The proceedings therefore involve both substantive questions surrounding the certificate allegation and preliminary legal questions about whether the action is properly before the court.
Tinubu’s legal team has also argued that an allegation of forgery, being criminal in nature, must meet the applicable evidentiary standard. The defence has further argued that the plaintiffs have not produced evidence from the NYSC disclaiming the issuance of the certificate.
The plaintiffs have meanwhile sought permission to amend aspects of their originating processes, including the description of the INEC form allegedly attached to the certificate.
The court’s eventual determination will establish whether the suit can proceed on the merits and, if so, whether the allegations against Tinubu satisfy the constitutional and evidentiary requirements for disqualification.