Legal Challenge Against President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Bid
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has taken legal action against President Bola Tinubu, seeking his disqualification from the 2027 presidential election. The basis of this challenge is an alleged forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate submitted by Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This move marks a significant development in the political landscape of Nigeria, as it raises questions about the integrity of the electoral process.
Atiku personally appeared at the Federal High Court in Abuja to file an affidavit supporting the lawsuit against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and INEC. The suit references several sections of the 1999 Constitution, including Section 137(1)(j), which states that anyone who presents a forged certificate to INEC is not qualified for the presidency. The legal team also cited relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The central issue in the case revolves around the authenticity of the NYSC discharge certificate allegedly submitted by Tinubu. According to Atiku’s affidavit, the certificate bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” instead of “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” The plaintiffs further claim that the document was not obtained by Tinubu and was submitted in connection with the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku is also requesting that INEC produce Tinubu’s Form CF001, which relates to his submissions for both the 2023 and 2027 elections. He stated that he had previously sought Certified True Copies of these documents but had not received them before initiating the legal action.
Explaining his decision to appear in person at the court, Atiku emphasized the importance of the case. “The issues before the court go to the heart of our Constitution and the integrity of the office of President,” he said. “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.”
Atiku stressed that the case should be resolved through evidence presented in court rather than political arguments or social media debates. “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.”
The ADC candidate also questioned the legitimacy of the names on the disputed certificate. Among the requested reliefs is an order to disqualify Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election if the allegations are proven. Atiku argued that the issue of certificate authenticity should be subject to the same standard applied to ordinary Nigerians. “The presidency is not an immunity certificate against constitutional scrutiny,” he said.
In addition, Atiku called on INEC to demonstrate its neutrality by producing the relevant electoral records. Counsel to the plaintiffs, Edwin Inegedu, SAN, and Joseph Onu Silas, expressed confidence in the case.
However, the APC responded to the lawsuit, calling it an exercise in futility. The party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, stated that Atiku should prepare 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 said.
Meanwhile, Kalu Agu, a legal counsel and chieftain of the ADC, submitted a petition to the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, alleging that Tinubu had submitted forged certificates to INEC. Agu claimed that Tinubu also failed to disclose the primary and secondary schools he attended in documents submitted to INEC. He argued that this contravened Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution.
The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, dismissed the EU petition, describing it as a distraction by the opposition. “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.
This legal challenge highlights the ongoing tensions within Nigerian politics and underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the electoral process. As the case unfolds, it will be closely watched by citizens, political analysts, and international observers alike.
