Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The legal challenge is centred on an NYSC discharge certificate that the plaintiffs allege was forged and submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Atiku and the other plaintiffs are questioning the name contained in the document submitted to the electoral body. They claim the certificate identifies the holder as “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, while the President’s name is “Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.
The plaintiffs want the court to establish whether the alleged difference in the names appearing on the certificate has any legal impact on Tinubu’s qualification to seek re-election in 2027.
Their case also raises questions about provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 that set out the requirements for individuals seeking the presidency.
Atiku is therefore asking the court to determine whether the alleged irregularity involving the NYSC certificate provides grounds for Tinubu to be excluded from the 2027 presidential race.
