Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order disqualifying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku, who was present at the court on Friday, filed the suit over allegations that President Tinubu presented a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in connection with the 2023 presidential election and preparations for the 2027 poll.
The former vice president is asking the court to examine the authenticity and validity of the document allegedly submitted by the President, arguing that it bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, rather than “Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the name by which the President is widely known and officially recognised.
According to Atiku and the plaintiffs, the discrepancy raises serious questions about the identity and authenticity of the NYSC certificate submitted to INEC.
The suit could potentially add another dramatic dimension to an already heated political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the legal battle likely to attract significant public and political attention.
Atiku has consistently challenged aspects of President Tinubu’s eligibility and the circumstances surrounding the 2023 presidential election. The latest suit therefore brings the controversy back before the courts, as political parties and major contenders begin positioning themselves for the 2027 contest.
The legal action is also coming at a time when Nigeria’s political space is increasingly tense, with the opposition seeking to consolidate forces ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested presidential election.
The court will now be expected to determine the legal merit of the claims and whether the allegations provide sufficient grounds to affect President Tinubu’s eligibility to participate in the 2027 presidential election.
