Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress have moved to amend their lawsuit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has set October 13, 2026, for the hearing of this application.
The suit, filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, also lists the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants. Justice Inyang Ekwo presided over the proceedings.
When the case was called, the plaintiffs’ counsel, Joseph Silas, informed the court that all defendants had been properly served within the required timeframe, and that responses to the processes had been exchanged. Proceedings had previously been delayed due to a dispute over service on the first defendant, President Tinubu.
Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), counsel for the President, reminded the court that at the previous hearing on September 1, 2026, counsel for the APC, Popoola Owosanya, had offered to accept service on Tinubu’s behalf. However, the plaintiffs’ counsel declined and later sought an order for substituted service, alleging they could not serve Tinubu personally and accusing the plaintiffs of attempting to “deceive the court.”
Justice Ekwo urged the parties to proceed with the day’s business. Silas then notified the court of the plaintiffs’ application to amend their originating summons, confirming that the defence counsel had been served with the application. After verifying service, Justice Ekwo adjourned the case to October 13, 2026, for the hearing of the amendment motion.
Atiku and the ADC filed the original suit in August, contesting Tinubu’s eligibility on grounds of an alleged discrepancy between the name on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate submitted to INEC and the President’s official name. This allegation is among the substantive issues pending before the court.
On September 16, the court granted the plaintiffs permission to serve Tinubu through the APC, following failed attempts at personal service. The APC subsequently challenged this order, arguing that Tinubu’s legal team had already received the court documents and filed a defence before the application for substituted service was made.
Meanwhile, INEC has filed a response challenging the competence of the lawsuit, raising issues about the plaintiffs’ locus standi and possible abuse of court process.
