Atiku Abubakar sues President Tinubu over alleged forged NYSC certificate ahead of 2027 election
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking his disqualification from the 2027 presidential election. Abubakar alleges that President Tinubu submitted a forged National Youth Service Corps NYSC certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC. The suit invokes sections 1371j, 1391ai, and 28514c of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. Section 1371j states that a person is not qualified for election as President if they have presented a forged certificate to INEC. Abubakar's affidavit claims the NYSC discharge certificate submitted to INEC bears the name "Tinubu Bola Adekunle" instead of "Bola Ahmed Tinubu" and that it was not obtained by President Tinubu. He also seeks to compel INEC to produce President Tinubu's Form CF001 for the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections. Abubakar personally appeared at the court registry, emphasizing the case's importance to the Constitution and the integrity of the presidency. Separately, Kalu Agu, a legal counsel and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress ADC, submitted a petition against President Tinubu to the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, also alleging the submission of forged academic credentials to INEC. The All Progressives Congress APC has dismissed the lawsuit as an exercise in futility, with National Secretary Ajibola Basiru stating that President Tinubu is qualified
