The Federal High Court in Abuja has given former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar seven days to serve President Bola Tinubu with a suit challenging his eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on Wednesday, approved substituted service of the suit on Tinubu through his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The suit, filed by Atiku and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), seeks Tinubu’s disqualification over allegations that he submitted a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Atiku alleges that the certificate submitted to INEC bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” and amounts to false information.
Tinubu and the APC have denied the allegations and asked the court to dismiss the case. Their legal team has argued, among other things, that the suit is incompetent and that Atiku lacks the legal standing to challenge the documents.
INEC has also filed an objection challenging the competence of the suit.
The court had earlier adjourned the matter to September 28 after Atiku’s legal team said it had been unable to personally serve Tinubu with the originating processes.
The court has not yet determined the substantive allegations concerning the NYSC certificate or Tinubu’s eligibility. The case is scheduled for mention on September 28.
Leave feedback about this