Federal High Court directs that court processes be served on President Tinubu through APC within seven days
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) permission to serve President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with court documents through the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a suit challenging his eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the application for substituted service on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, after hearing an ex-parte application filed by Atiku’s legal team.
The court directed that the processes be served on Tinubu through the APC within seven days. The matter was subsequently adjourned until September 28, 2026, for mention.
Suit centres on alleged NYSC certificate
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, was filed by Atiku and the ADC against Tinubu, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The plaintiffs are asking the court to disqualify Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election over allegations concerning documents submitted to INEC, particularly an alleged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.
Atiku alleges that a certificate submitted to INEC bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, which he argues does not correspond with the name of the President.
In an affidavit filed in support of the case, Atiku alleged that the certificate was forged and that its submission to INEC amounted to the presentation of false information. These remain allegations contained in the suit and have not been established by the court.
The plaintiffs are relying, among other provisions, on Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which addresses disqualification where a person has presented a forged certificate to INEC.
They are asking the court to declare that Tinubu presented a forged certificate and to disqualify him and the APC from the 2027 presidential election.
Why substituted service was sought
The application became necessary after Atiku’s legal team said it had been unable to personally serve Tinubu with the originating processes.
At the earlier proceedings on September 1, Atiku’s lawyers had sought permission to use substituted service. Lawyers representing Tinubu had indicated that they were prepared to receive the processes on his behalf, but the plaintiffs did not accept that arrangement and insisted on personal service or an order for substituted service.
With Wednesday’s ruling, the court has now authorised service through the APC, giving the plaintiffs seven days to effect the service.
Tinubu’s lawyers challenge the suit
Tinubu’s legal team has opposed the case and filed processes challenging its competence.
According to court reports, lawyers representing the President have questioned Atiku’s legal standing to bring the action and argued that the case is statute-barred under provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The lawyers have also asked the court to dismiss the suit.
The case is therefore yet to determine whether the certificate in question was forged or whether Tinubu is legally disqualified from contesting the 2027 election.
The next proceedings are scheduled for September 28, 2026, when the matter is expected to come up for further mention.
What Wednesday’s ruling means
The court’s decision on Wednesday was a procedural order concerning service of court documents. It did not amount to a finding that Tinubu forged an NYSC certificate, nor did it disqualify him from the 2027 presidential election.
The substantive allegations and the legal objections raised by the defendants remain to be determined by the court.