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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Atiku’s Demand for Personal Service Delays Suit Seeking Tinubu, APC Disqualification in 2027 Election

From ThisDay · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Nigeria’s Federal High Court postponed a suit brought by Atiku Abubakar and the ADC seeking to disqualify President Bola Tinubu and the APC from the 2027 elections.
  • The plaintiffs rejected Tinubu’s lawyer’s offer to accept service, saying they wanted to avoid future procedural disputes.
  • The case, which alleges certificate forgery and constitutional breaches, was adjourned to Sept. 28; Tinubu and the APC deny no position in the provided text.

Proceedings in a case seeking to remove President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress from Nigeria’s 2027 election were delayed after the plaintiffs insisted on serving Tinubu personally.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his African Democratic Congress filed the suit at the Federal High Court last month against Tinubu, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission. They argue that Tinubu should be disqualified because he allegedly presented a forged certificate to the electoral commission in 1999, when he first sought the Lagos governorship.

a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if he has presented a forged certificate to the independent National Electoral Commission

— Nigeria’s Constitution, Section 137(1)(j)Atiku’s affidavit cites the constitutional provision underlying the disqualification claim.

When the case came before Justice Inyang Ekwo, lawyer Joseph Onu Silas said the plaintiffs had been unable to serve Tinubu and would seek permission for substituted service. Omosanya Popoola, representing Tinubu and the APC, said he had authority to accept the documents for Tinubu. The plaintiffs declined, saying personal service would help prevent technical challenges later in the proceedings.

The judge adjourned the hearing to Sept. 28. Atiku’s supporting affidavit cites Section 137(1)(j) of Nigeria’s Constitution, which says a person cannot qualify for the presidency if he presented a forged certificate to the electoral commission. The plaintiffs also seek the 1999 Form CF 001 and question the name on a National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate submitted with Tinubu’s 2023 election documents, which they say differs from “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

I know that it is very important to have the submitted FORM CF 001 of 1999 as it raises serious issues of forgery against the 1st Defendant.

— Atiku AbubakarThe former vice president’s affidavit explains why he is seeking Tinubu’s 1999 electoral form.
About this summary

Originally published by ThisDay in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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