Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking permission to amend their suit challenging President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, seeks to disqualify Tinubu and the APC from participating in the election over allegations surrounding the submission of a purportedly forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC is listed as the third defendant in the case.
In a motion before Justice Inyang Ekwo, Atiku and the ADC asked the court for leave to amend their originating summons and to deem the amended processes as properly filed.
The plaintiffs said the amendment became necessary after they discovered errors in the description of some INEC forms attached to their affidavit. They said the documents were incorrectly identified as Form CF001 instead of Form EC9A.
They also sought to provide more specific details of the alleged fraud, include Atiku’s written deposition and attach clearer copies of exhibits referenced in the suit.
However, Tinubu and the APC have urged the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the suit is incompetent and that the plaintiffs lack the legal standing to institute it.
In a joint counter-affidavit filed on September 9, the President and APC denied submitting any forged certificate to INEC for either the 2023 or 2027 presidential elections.
They further stated that they did not submit Form CF001 to INEC for either election as alleged by the plaintiffs.
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The defendants also maintained that the NYSC had never denied issuing a discharge certificate to Tinubu following his service year.
In their written address, their counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, argued that allegations of forgery are criminal in nature and must be established beyond reasonable doubt.
Olujinmi said evidence from the institution alleged to have issued the disputed certificate would be necessary to establish that it was forged.
He maintained that Atiku and the ADC had not produced any evidence from the NYSC disclaiming the issuance of the discharge certificate attributed to Tinubu.
The lawyer consequently urged the court to dismiss the suit, describing it as incompetent and lacking a proper basis.
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The Federal High Court has fixed September 28, 2026, for hearing in the case.
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Samuel Agada is a writer and media contributor from Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. He is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Jos and a former banker with GTBank and FCMB. A prolific writer, songwriter, educator, and Gospel preacher, he is passionate about informing, inspiring, and impacting society through his work.