Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the disqualification of President Bola Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over allegations of a forged National Youth Service Corps certificate.
Atiku, who filed the case on Friday, also joined the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission as defendants in the suit.
The suit is based on Sections 137(1)(j), 139(1)(a)(i) and 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. Section 137(1)(j) disqualifies any candidate who presents a forged certificate to INEC.
In his affidavit, Atiku alleged that the NYSC discharge certificate submitted by Tinubu to INEC bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” instead of “Bola Ahmed Tinubu”. He claimed the certificate was not obtained by the President and was submitted in connection with the 2027 election.
Atiku is also asking the court to compel INEC to produce Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted for the 2023 and 2027 elections. He said he had earlier requested Certified True Copies from INEC but did not receive them.
Speaking at the court registry, Atiku said the matter concerns the integrity of the office of President.
“I have 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,” he said.
On the same day, ADC chieftain and lawyer, Kalu Agu, submitted a petition to the European Commission in Brussels, alleging that Tinubu presented false academic credentials to INEC and failed to disclose his primary and secondary schools. He urged the EU to intervene.
The APC dismissed the suit. National Secretary Ajibola Basiru said, “Atiku should go and brace for another defeat. The President is qualified to contest. The matter has been settled by the Supreme Court.”
Presidential aide Daniel Bwala also described the EU petition as a distraction.
Atiku is asking the court to disqualify Tinubu and APC from the 2027 election if the allegations are proven.
