2027 Disqualification Suit: Tinubu, APC Ask Court to Dismiss Atiku’s Petition Over NYSC Allegations
President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit seeking to disqualify them from participating in the 2027 presidential election over alleged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate forgery.
The legal action, filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026 by the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, alongside his party, seeks an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove Tinubu and the APC from the candidate listings for the 2027 polls.
Substituted Service Granted
Presiding Judge Justice Inyang Ekwo granted permission to the plaintiffs to serve the originating summons and accompanying court processes on President Tinubu through the APC national headquarters.
The ruling followed an ex parte application argued by plaintiffs’ counsel, Olanrewaju Omotayo-Ojo, who noted that previous attempts at personal service on the President had been unsuccessful. Justice Ekwo directed that substituted service be completed within seven days and adjourned the matter to September 28 for further proceedings.
Key Arguments Before the Court
In a joint counter-affidavit deposed to by APC Director of Legal Services Sanusi Samaila, the defendants denied submitting any forged documents or Form CF001 to INEC.
| Party | Legal Representation | Core Position / Submission |
| Atiku Abubakar & ADC (Plaintiffs) | Olanrewaju Omotayo-Ojo | Allege submission of a disputed NYSC certificate and seek disqualification of Tinubu and APC for 2027. |
| Bola Tinubu & APC (1st & 2nd Defendants) | Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN | Assert the NYSC has never disowned Tinubu’s certificate; argue forgery requires proof beyond reasonable doubt via an official NYSC disclaimer. |
| INEC (3rd Defendant) | Alex Izinyon, SAN | Filed preliminary objection arguing the suit is statute-barred, lacks reasonable cause of action, and breaches pre-election practice rules. |
Lead defense counsel Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, submitted that allegations of forgery are criminal under Section 135(1) of the Evidence Act and require standard proof beyond reasonable doubt. He noted that the plaintiffs failed to produce any disclaimer from the NYSC Directorate or present the original document from which the alleged forgery was executed, describing the suit as hypothetical and lacking legal standing.
INEC similarly challenged the competence of the action, urging the court to strike out the case for failing to comply with the Federal High Court Pre-Election Practice Directions.
