Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has opened a fresh legal battle over President Bola Tinubu’s eligibility for the 2027 presidential election, asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to disqualify him over an alleged forged National Youth Service Corps certificate.
The suit, filed by Atiku and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), also seeks access to electoral documents submitted by Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Separately, an ADC chieftain, Kalu Agu, petitioned the European Commission in Brussels over the same allegations.
Atiku personally appeared at the Federal High Court registry on Friday to depose to an affidavit supporting the case against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and INEC.
The plaintiffs invoked Sections 137(1)(j), 139(1)(a)(i), and 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, alongside relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
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Central to this litigation is Section 137(1)(j), which bars a person from contesting the presidency if he has presented a forged certificate to INEC.
In his affidavit, Atiku alleged that an NYSC discharge certificate purportedly submitted to INEC by Tinubu bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, instead of the President’s name, “Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.
The former vice-president further alleged that Tinubu did not obtain the document and that it was submitted in relation to his 2027 presidential bid.
Atiku is also seeking an order compelling INEC to produce Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted for the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.
He said he had earlier requested Certified True Copies of the relevant electoral records from the commission but had not received them before filing the action.
Explaining his decision to appear personally at the registry, Atiku said the matter concerned fundamental constitutional questions.
He said, “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.
“I have therefore put my name, my signature and my oath behind the facts we are presenting to the court. Now it is President Tinubu’s turn to answer them.”
Atiku said the dispute should be settled through documentary evidence and judicial scrutiny rather than political exchanges or social media commentary.
He added, “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.”
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.
“The presidency is not an immunity certificate against constitutional scrutiny,” Atiku said.
APC rejects case
The APC dismissed the action as futile and maintained that Tinubu is constitutionally qualified to seek another term.
The party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, told Saturday PUNCH that Atiku should concentrate on the election rather than pursue what he described as an unsuccessful legal route.
Basiru said, “Atiku should go and brace for another defeat in the general election. The President is qualified to contest the election; there is nothing disqualifying him, and the matter has been settled by the Supreme Court.”
He also accused the ADC presidential candidate of seeking a shortcut to power.
ADC takes allegation to Brussels
While the court action unfolded in Abuja, Agu submitted a petition against Tinubu to the European Commission in Brussels.
A video shared on X by Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, showed Agu submitting the document.
Agu alleged that Tinubu presented false credentials to INEC and failed to disclose the primary and secondary schools he attended in documents filed with the electoral commission.
He cited Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution as the basis for his complaint. He contended that the alleged submission of forged certificates affects Tinubu’s eligibility for the 2027 election.
President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, however, dismissed the European petition as an opposition distraction.
“The opposition is on a wild goose chase in Europe. They would do everything possible to distract and avoid answering the very one question: What would you do differently from this government?” Bwala wrote on X.
The Federal High Court will now have to consider the claims placed before it, including the disputed certificate and the electoral records Atiku wants INEC to produce.
