The legal and political battle for the 2027 presidency intensified on Friday as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, dragged President Bola Tinubu before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking his disqualification over an alleged forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.

In a rare move, Atiku personally appeared at the court registry to depose to an affidavit supporting the suit filed against President Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The lawsuit relies on Sections 137(1)(j), 139(1)(a)(i), and 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), alongside provisions of the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026. Section 137(1)(j) dictates that any candidate who presents a forged certificate to INEC stands disqualified from running for the office of the President.

According to Atiku’s sworn affidavit, the NYSC discharge certificate submitted to INEC bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle,” which contrasts with the President’s official name, “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” The plaintiffs allege that the document was not legitimately obtained by the President and is being used in connection with the upcoming 2027 polls.

The former Vice President is asking the court to compel INEC to produce Tinubu’s Form CF001 from both the 2023 and 2027 electoral cycles. Atiku noted that his legal team had previously requested certified true copies of these documents from the electoral umpire but received no response before approaching the court.

Speaking on his decision to sign the court papers personally, Atiku stated that the matter was too critical for proxy handling.

“I came here personally because the issues before the court go to the heart of our Constitution and the integrity of the Office of President,” Atiku said. “I have put my name, my signature, and my oath behind the facts. Now it is President Tinubu’s turn to answer them.”

Atiku emphasized that the case should be decided by judicial evidence rather than political rhetoric or social media debates. He also challenged the defense to prove that "Tinubu Bola Adekunle" and "Bola Ahmed Tinubu" are legally the same individual.

Beyond the certificate verification, the lawsuit takes aim at specific provisions within the Electoral Act 2026. The ADC and Atiku argue that the new act contains clauses that unlawfully restrict candidates and political parties from challenging a rival`s qualifications at the pre-election stage.

The plaintiffs maintain that ordinary legislation cannot override express constitutional standards.

“Can an Act of the National Assembly be used as a shield against an express provision of the Constitution? Our position is that the Constitution remains supreme,” Atiku argued, adding that "the presidency is not an immunity certificate against constitutional scrutiny."

The plaintiffs’ legal team, led by Edwin Inegedu, SAN, and Joseph Onu Silas, expressed strong confidence in their case. Silas noted that the team is fully prepared to argue the matter and respond to the defendants once they are formally served.

"This case presents an important opportunity to further develop Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence," Silas stated.

The court has yet to establish the authenticity or legal implications of the disputed document. However, this high-stakes lawsuit shifts the immediate focus of the 2027 race to the judiciary, putting INEC’s record-keeping and the supremacy of constitutional qualifications under strict public scrutiny.