Atiku, ADC Seek to Amend Tinubu’s 2027 Eligibility Suit as Court Fixes October 13 Hearing

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to amend their suit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election. The court has fixed October 13, 2026, to hear the application.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, also lists the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants. It came up for further mention before Justice Inyang Ekwo.

During the proceedings, counsel to Atiku and the ADC, Joseph Silas, told the court that all the defendants had been served with the required documents within the stipulated period. He added that the plaintiffs had also received and responded to processes filed by the defendants.

However, President Tinubu’s counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), raised concerns about the earlier dispute over service of court documents. He recalled that at a September 1 hearing, the lawyer representing the second defendant, Popoola Owosanya, had offered to accept the documents on behalf of the President.

Olanipekun said the plaintiffs’ counsel rejected that offer and later applied for an order allowing substituted service on Tinubu. He accused the plaintiffs of attempting to mislead the court over the service of the documents. Justice Ekwo, however, urged the lawyers to focus on the matter before the court.

Silas subsequently informed the court that the plaintiffs had filed an application to amend their originating summons and had notified the defendants’ lawyers. After confirming that the application had been served, Justice Ekwo adjourned the case to October 13 for hearing of the motion.

Atiku and the ADC filed the suit in August 2026, challenging Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election. The case includes an alleged discrepancy between the name on a National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate submitted to INEC and the President’s official name. The court has yet to determine the substantive issues raised in the suit.