Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress have moved to amend their suit seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned the matter until October 13, 2026, for hearing of the application seeking permission to amend the originating summons.
The suit, filed against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission, centres on allegations concerning a National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate said to have been submitted to INEC in Tinubu’s name.
Atiku and the ADC are asking the court to determine whether the alleged discrepancy involving the name on the certificate affects Tinubu’s constitutional eligibility to contest the 2027 election.
The plaintiffs had earlier sought an order compelling INEC to remove Tinubu and the APC from the list of candidates and political parties participating in the presidential election if the court establishes the grounds contained in their case.
The proposed amendment follows what the plaintiffs described as errors in the description of some INEC documents attached to their affidavit. They also want to provide additional details and clearer copies of documents relied upon in the case.
Tinubu and the APC have opposed the suit and asked the court to dismiss it. Their lawyers have denied that the President or the party submitted a forged certificate to INEC and have argued that the plaintiffs lack the legal standing to bring the action.
The defendants have also argued that an allegation of forgery is criminal in nature and must be established to the required standard of proof. They maintain that the National Youth Service Corps has not denied issuing the certificate in question.
INEC has separately challenged the competence of the case, raising issues including limitation, locus standi, reasonable cause of action and alleged abuse of court process.
The latest development means the substantive legal dispute remains before the Federal High Court, with the next major step being the hearing of Atiku and the ADC’s application to amend their originating summons.
The court has not determined the allegations against Tinubu.
