Atiku’s suit against Tinubu’s 2027 bid stalls over service

Atiku Abubakar’s legal challenge to Bola Tinubu’s eligibility for Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election has stalled over a procedural dispute about serving the president with the court papers.

At a resumed hearing in Abuja, Atiku’s lawyer, Joseph Silas, told Justice Inyang Ekwo that attempts to serve Tinubu personally had failed. He sought permission for substituted service so the case could move forward.

Tinubu’s lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Omosanya Popoola, offered to accept the originating summons on the president’s behalf and deliver it to him. Atiku’s counsel objected, insisting that Popoola first provide a written undertaking confirming his authority to receive the documents. Another senior lawyer, Alex Izinyon, also urged the court to allow service through Tinubu’s counsel, but the disagreement remained unresolved.

Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter to allow Atiku’s legal team to regularise service. The court fixed September 28, 2026, for further mention. Atiku filed the suit against Tinubu, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission, asking the court to determine whether Tinubu meets constitutional and Electoral Act requirements to contest the election.

A central issue involves a National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate submitted to INEC in Tinubu’s name. Atiku alleges that the document bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” instead of “Bola Ahmed Tinubu” and was not obtained by the president. He wants the court to determine whether submitting it amounted to presenting a forged certificate, which could trigger a constitutional disqualification provision. He has also asked INEC to produce Tinubu’s electoral forms for the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.