A legal battle initiated by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to disqualify President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election suffered a setback on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, as proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja were stalled over the service of court processes.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), filed the suit against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), challenging the President’s eligibility to seek re-election.
The plaintiffs’ case centres on an alleged discrepancy in the name appearing on an NYSC discharge certificate reportedly submitted to INEC. Atiku and the ADC contend that the certificate bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, while the President’s official name is Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
At the mention of the matter on Tuesday, counsel to the plaintiffs, Joseph Onu, informed the court that he had been unable to personally serve the defendant and indicated his intention to effect personal service or seek substituted service.
The proceedings became contentious when counsel to President Tinubu attempted to receive the originating summons filed by the plaintiffs. Onu, however, reportedly declined to hand over the process, insisting that it should be served personally on the President or through substituted service authorised by the court.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether the alleged discrepancy in the NYSC certificate affects Tinubu’s constitutional qualification to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, after listening to the parties, adjourned the matter until September 28, 2026, for further mention.
The case adds another legal dimension to the increasingly competitive 2027 presidential race, with Tinubu seeking a second term on the platform of the APC and Atiku expected to contest under the ADC.
Tinubu defeated Atiku in the 2023 presidential election, and the latest court action has positioned the two political heavyweights for another potentially consequential legal and political contest ahead of the 2027 poll.
