Atiku seeks court approval to amend suit against Tinubu, APC

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have petitioned the Federal High Court in Abuja for approval to modify their legal challenge against President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) prior to the 2027 presidential election. Their claim revolves around the alleged use of a falsified National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate in their submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This ongoing suit, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, also names INEC as a co-defendant.

In a filing before Judge Inyang Ekwo, Atiku and the ADC requested permission to amend their initial submission, arguing that the necessary corrections have become apparent. Specifically, they noted discrepancies in the identification of INEC forms referenced in their affidavit, which were mistakenly noted as Form CF001 rather than the correct Form EC9A.

They further argued that the amended document should detail the precise nature of the alleged fraud, include Atiku's written statement, and feature clearer reproductions of the evidence cited in the suit. Tinubu and the APC, on the other hand, have urged the court to dismiss the case, asserting that it lacks legal merit and that the plaintiffs lack the requisite authority to initiate proceedings.

In a joint response submitted on September 9, Tinubu and the APC denied any involvement in submitting fraudulent documents to INEC for either the 2023 or 2027 presidential elections. They also maintained that the NYSC had not denied issuing a discharge certificate to Tinubu post his service year. Their legal team, led by Chief Akin Olujinmi SAN, emphasized that any allegations of forgery must be substantiated beyond a reasonable doubt.

They argued that evidence from the institution purportedly issuing the disputed certificate would be necessary to prove its falsification. Olujinmi contended that Atiku and the ADC had failed to provide any corroborating evidence from the NYSC to disprove Tinubu's discharge certificate. Consequently, Olujinmi requested the court to dismiss the suit, deeming it legally inadequate and lacking a solid foundation for the plaintiffs' claims. The court has scheduled a hearing for September 28 to adjudicate this matter.