Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the disqualification of President Bola Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over an alleged forged National Youth Service Corps certificate.
Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, personally appeared at the court registry on Friday to depose to an affidavit supporting the suit filed against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The suit relies on provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Electoral Act 2026 relating to the qualification of presidential candidates.
At the centre of the case is Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution, which provides that a person is not qualified to be elected President if he has presented a forged certificate to INEC.
Atiku and the ADC are asking the court to determine whether Tinubu should be disqualified from contesting the 2027 presidential election over allegations that he submitted a forged NYSC certificate.
According to Atiku’s affidavit, the disputed NYSC discharge certificate allegedly submitted to INEC bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” rather than the President’s name, “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
The plaintiffs further alleged that Tinubu did not obtain the certificate and that the document was submitted in connection with his 2027 presidential bid.
However, the allegations have not been established by the court, which is now being asked to determine the authenticity of the document and its legal implications.
Atiku is also seeking an order compelling INEC to produce Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted for the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.
The former vice president said he had previously requested certified copies of the relevant documents from INEC but had not received them before filing the suit.
Explaining his decision to personally appear at the court registry, Atiku said the matter concerned the integrity of the presidency and the provisions of the Constitution.
He said the case should be determined through evidence and judicial proceedings rather than political arguments or social media debates.
The plaintiffs are also challenging provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 which they contend restrict the ability of candidates and political parties to challenge the qualification of presidential candidates before an election.
They argued that ordinary legislation cannot override the Constitution, insisting that constitutional provisions on presidential qualification must prevail where there is a conflict.
Among the reliefs being sought is an order disqualifying Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election if the allegations are established.
Atiku also urged INEC to produce the relevant electoral records, arguing that the commission has a responsibility to demonstrate neutrality in the electoral process.
The legal challenge adds another major dispute to the political contest ahead of the 2027 presidential election, placing Tinubu’s qualification and the authenticity of the disputed NYSC certificate before the judiciary.
The court is expected to consider the claims of the plaintiffs alongside the responses of Tinubu, the APC and INEC as the case progresses.
