•Tinubu and Atiku
The suit filed by the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to disqualify President Bola Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election over allegations concerning his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been stalled.
At the mention of the case, the counsel to the plaintiff, Joseph Onu, informed the court that he has been unable to serve the defendant personally and would love to do so directly or through substituted service, reports Channels TV.
Attempts by the counsel to President Tinubu to receive the originating summons filed by the plaintiff were rebuffed by Onu, who insisted on serving the defendant directly or through substituted service.
Former Vice President Atiku, who filed the suit on Friday, is challenging President Tinubu’s eligibility to seek another term in office, arguing that the NYSC certificate submitted to INEC contains a name different from the president’s official name.
According to the plaintiffs, the certificate bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, while the president is known as “Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.
They are asking the court to determine whether the alleged discrepancy in the name appearing on the NYSC certificate affects Tinubu’s constitutional qualification to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, after listening to the parties, adjourned the suit to September 28 for further mention.
Tinubu defeated Atiku in the 2023 presidential election. Both men are also in contention for the country’s number one seat as the 2027 elections draw closer.
The president is flying the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Atiku is representing the ADC.
