RismadarVoice Reporters
August 14, 2026
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to disqualify President Bola Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election over an alleged discrepancy involving his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.
Atiku and other plaintiffs are challenging the validity of an NYSC certificate allegedly submitted by President Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as part of his qualification documents.
According to the plaintiffs, the certificate bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, which they claim differs from the President’s name, “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
They are asking the court to determine whether the alleged discrepancy renders President Tinubu ineligible to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The plaintiffs also questioned the validity of the document submitted to INEC and are seeking judicial determination of its implications for the President’s constitutional qualification to seek re-election.
The suit further challenges provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to the qualification of presidential candidates.
The case comes amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition parties and political figures increasingly challenging the eligibility and records of prospective presidential candidates.
The allegations remain subject to judicial determination, and no finding of wrongdoing has been made against President Tinubu in the case at this stage.
