Court adjourns Atiku's suit challenging Tinubu's eligibility

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, adjourned a lawsuit filed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar seeking to disqualify President Bola Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election. The proceedings were stalled due to a dispute over how to serve the President with the court documents.

The case, brought by Atiku and his party, the African Democratic Congress, centers on allegations that President Tinubu submitted a forged National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission. The plaintiffs claim the certificate bears the name "Tinubu Bola Adekunle," which differs from the President's official name, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In an affidavit, Atiku alleged the document does not belong to the President and was presented as genuine.

During Tuesday's hearing before Justice Inyang Ekwo, counsel for the plaintiffs, Joseph Onu, informed the court that he had been unable to personally serve President Tinubu with the originating summons as required by law. He requested an order for substituted service to allow the case to proceed.

The situation became contentious when a lawyer representing President Tinubu,...