The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 13, 2026, to hear an application by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress, ADC, seeking to amend their suit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date after lawyers representing the parties appeared before the court to address issues surrounding the plaintiffs’ proposed amendments in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026.
Atiku and the ADC are challenging Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, over allegations concerning an NYSC discharge certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. They are asking the court to disqualify Tinubu and the APC from the 2027 presidential race. The allegations have been denied by Tinubu and the APC.
The plaintiffs had applied for permission to alter their originating summons, citing errors and omissions in the documents initially filed before the court. They also proposed providing additional details and clarifying some of the exhibits attached to their case.
The move has been opposed by Tinubu and INEC, who argue that the proposed changes go beyond correcting technical errors and could introduce new issues into the case.
The defendants have separately challenged the competence of the substantive suit, raising issues including the timing of the action, legal standing and compliance with pre-election procedures.
Tinubu’s legal team has also maintained that the allegations concerning the NYSC certificate have not been established and argued that the suit should be dismissed. INEC has similarly asked the court to reject the case, citing what it considers procedural and jurisdictional defects.
The court will now determine whether Atiku and the ADC should be allowed to make the proposed amendments before the substantive issues in the case proceed further.
