THE suit filed by the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, seeking an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja to disqualify President Bola Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election over allegations concerning his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been stalled.
News Point Nigeria reports that the development arose at the mention of the case when counsel to the plaintiff, Joseph Onu, informed the court that he had been unable to personally serve the defendant and would prefer to do so directly or through substituted service.
Attempts by counsel to President Tinubu to receive the originating summons filed by the plaintiff were rebuffed by Onu, who insisted on serving the defendant personally or through substituted means.
Former Vice President Atiku, who filed the suit on Friday, is challenging President Tinubu’s eligibility to seek another term in office, arguing that the NYSC discharge certificate submitted to INEC contains a name different from the President’s official name.
According to the plaintiff, the certificate bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle,” while the President is officially known as “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
The suit is asking the court to determine whether the alleged discrepancy in the name appearing on the NYSC certificate affects Tinubu’s constitutional qualification to contest the 2027 presidential election.
After listening to the submissions of the parties, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter until September 28 for further mention.
The case marks the latest legal challenge involving the two political rivals ahead of the 2027 general election.
President Tinubu defeated Atiku in the 2023 presidential election after a keenly contested race that eventually ended in litigation before the courts.
Both men are once again in contention for Nigeria’s highest political office as preparations and political alignments for the 2027 election continue to gather momentum.
While Tinubu is expected to fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku is contesting under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The outcome of the case could attract significant political and legal attention as the country moves closer to another presidential election cycle.
