The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar permission to serve President Bola Tinubu with court processes through the All Progressives Congress over a suit challenging Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the application on Wednesday after Atiku’s counsel, O.T. Omotayo-Ojo, sought an order for substituted service.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, and the party are challenging the participation of Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 presidential election over an allegation that a National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission was forged.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, lists Tinubu, the APC and INEC as the first, second and third defendants.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to direct INEC to remove Tinubu’s name and that of the APC from the list of candidates and political parties for the 2027 presidential election.
Explaining the application for substituted service, Omotayo-Ojo told the court that the plaintiffs had been unable to personally serve Tinubu with the originating summons and other court processes.
He therefore asked the court to permit service through the APC, which is also a defendant in the suit.
Justice Ekwo granted the application after counsel undertook that the plaintiffs would complete service within seven days.
The judge adjourned the case until September 28 for mention while Tinubu and the APC have opposed the suit and asked the court to dismiss it.
In a joint counter-affidavit filed on September 9, the President and the APC argued that the action was incompetent and that Atiku and the ADC lacked the legal standing to institute it. They also denied submitting any forged certificate to INEC for either the 2023 or 2027 presidential election.
