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The Federal High Court in Abuja has given former Vice President Atiku Abubakar seven days to serve President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with court processes in a suit seeking to stop the President from contesting the 2027 presidential election over allegations concerning certificates submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the order on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, granting Atiku permission to serve Tinubu by substituted means through the All Progressives Congress (APC) rather than personally delivering the documents to the President.
The suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, was instituted by Atiku and his party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), against Tinubu, the APC and INEC.
At the centre of the case is Atiku’s allegation that Tinubu submitted documents that raise questions under Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for disqualification from the presidency where a person has presented a forged certificate to INEC.
One of the specific documents challenged by Atiku is an alleged National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate bearing the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle.” Atiku argues that the name differs from Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official name and is asking the court to determine the authenticity and legal consequences of the document.
Atiku is also asking INEC to produce relevant documents, including Tinubu’s Form CF001, as part of the proceedings.
Importantly, these are allegations being contested in court. The latest order does not mean the court has found that Tinubu forged a certificate or that he is ineligible to contest in 2027. It concerns the procedural question of how the President should be formally served so that the substantive case can proceed.
The service issue had previously delayed the case. On September 1, Atiku’s lawyers told the court they had been unable to personally serve Tinubu. A lawyer appearing for the President offered to accept the originating summons on his behalf, but Atiku’s legal team sought formal substituted service instead, citing concerns about possible procedural complications.
Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned proceedings to September 28, allowing time for the service issue to be resolved.
The dispute could become one of the major legal battles surrounding the 2027 presidential race. Atiku and the ADC are ultimately seeking an order preventing Tinubu and the APC from participating in the presidential election if the allegations on which their case rests are established.
INEC has reportedly challenged the suit, describing it as an abuse of court process, while Tinubu and the APC have also sought its dismissal. The substantive merits of those competing arguments remain for the court to determine.
For now, therefore, the significance of Wednesday’s ruling is straightforward: Atiku has secured a court-approved route to formally bring Tinubu into the case. The next major question is what happens when the court begins considering the substance of the eligibility challenge.
