Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over an alleged forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.
Atiku personally appeared at the court registry in Abuja on Friday, August 14, 2026, where he deposed to an affidavit in support of the suit filed against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The case centres on an NYSC discharge certificate which Atiku and the ADC allege was submitted by Tinubu to INEC in connection with the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.
According to the plaintiffs, the disputed certificate bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, rather than the President’s name, “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” They are asking the court to determine whether the document was genuinely issued to Tinubu and whether its alleged submission to INEC affects his constitutional qualification to contest the 2027 election.
Atiku and the ADC are relying, among other provisions, on Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. The provision states that a person is not qualified for election as President if he has presented a forged certificate to INEC.
The plaintiffs are also challenging provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 which they argue could restrict challenges to a candidate’s qualification before an election. They contend that an ordinary Act of the National Assembly cannot override a qualification requirement expressly contained in the Constitution.
The suit asks the Federal High Court to determine whether Tinubu and the APC should be disqualified from participating in the 2027 presidential election if the allegations concerning the NYSC certificate are established.
The action also seeks access to relevant electoral documents submitted by Tinubu to INEC, including his Form CF001 for the 2023 and 2027 elections, according to reports on the case.
Atiku’s latest action revives a long-running dispute over questions surrounding Tinubu’s academic and identity records. In 2023, Atiku also pursued fresh evidence concerning allegations of certificate forgery against Tinubu, but the Supreme Court dismissed his application to introduce the evidence in the 2023 election litigation.
The latest case, however, is focused on Tinubu’s eligibility for the 2027 presidential election and comes after INEC began publishing candidates’ personal particulars and supporting documents ahead of the election in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026.
