2027: Atiku asks court to disqualify Tinubu over names, certificate controversy

The statement explained that at the heart of the action is Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution, which provides that a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if he has presented a forged certificate to INEC, noting that the suit specifically asks the court to determine whether Tinubu and the APC should be disqualified from the 2027 presidential election over the plaintiffs’ allegation that Tinubu presented a forged NYSC certificate to INEC in connection with the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.

Beyond the certificate matter, the statement noted that Atiku and the ADC are also challenging provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, which, according to their written address, effectively restrict who may challenge the qualification of a candidate at pre-election stage and the removal of qualification as a ground for questioning an election as envisaged by Section 139(a)(i) of the Constitution, which empowers the National Assembly to make laws allowing the questioning of whether a person elected into the office of President is qualified.

By Omeiza Ajayi Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress ADC)l, Atiku Abubakar, on Friday personally appeared at the Registry of the Federal High Court, Abuja, where he deposed to an affidavit in support of a suit challenging the qualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to contest the 2027 presidential election.