The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed November 20 to rule on an application by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to amend their suit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo set the date on Tuesday after hearing arguments from lawyers representing Atiku, Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Atiku and the ADC are seeking to disqualify Tinubu and the APC from the 2027 election, alleging that the party submitted a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to INEC on the president’s behalf. The allegation has been denied by Tinubu and the APC.
The applicants said they want to correct errors in their court filings, provide clearer copies of exhibits, and give further details of their allegations. They also sought to correct the description of an INEC form, previously identified as Form CF001 instead of Form EC9A.
However, lawyers for Tinubu, the APC, and INEC opposed the amendment, arguing that it would introduce a new cause of action and attempt to remedy defects in a suit they consider legally incompetent. They also argued that the case was filed outside the constitutionally prescribed time limit for pre-election matters.
The court’s November 20 ruling will determine whether Atiku and the ADC can amend their filings. It will not, by itself, decide the substantive allegations against Tinubu.
