ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has asked a federal court to disqualify President Bola Tinubu from Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, filed the action with his party at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, August 14, 2026.
The challenge centres on an NYSC discharge certificate attributed to Tinubu.
Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission are named as defendants.
Atiku personally visited the court registry to swear an affidavit in support of the case.
Disputed Name at Centre of Case
Atiku and the ADC allege that an NYSC discharge certificate submitted among Tinubu’s electoral documents bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” rather than “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
They further contend that the certificate was not obtained by the President and are asking the court to determine its authenticity and legal significance.
The allegation has not been proven in court. Tinubu has not been found to have submitted a forged certificate.
The case relies principally on Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution, which disqualifies a person from election as president if the person has presented a forged certificate to INEC.
Atiku is also asking INEC to produce certified copies of Tinubu’s electoral filings, including documents connected with his 2023 and 2027 candidacies.
He said requests for the records had not been fulfilled before the suit was filed.
INEC Had Published Candidates’ Documents
The legal action comes shortly after INEC displayed the personal particulars and supporting documents submitted by presidential candidates for the 2027 election.
The commission published the records at its offices nationwide in early August in accordance with Section 29 of the Electoral Act 2026. Tinubu is the APC presidential candidate, while Atiku is contesting on the ADC platform.
The Electoral Act requires political parties to submit candidates’ particulars and provides procedures for challenging information contained in those filings.
Atiku and the ADC are also questioning provisions of the 2026 law that they argue restrict challenges to a candidate’s constitutional qualifications.
Their position is that legislation passed by the National Assembly cannot override an express requirement contained in the Constitution.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to prevent Tinubu and the APC from participating in the election if their allegations are established.
No hearing date had been announced, and the court has not ruled on any of the claims.
