Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja for permission to amend their suit challenging President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The plaintiffs are seeking the disqualification of Tinubu and the APC from the election over an allegation that a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, also lists INEC as the third defendant.
In a motion before Justice Inyang Ekwo, Atiku and the ADC asked the court to allow them to amend their originating summons and recognise the amended documents as properly filed.
They said the proposed amendment became necessary after errors were discovered in the names of some INEC forms attached to their affidavit, which were identified as Form CF001 instead of Form EC9A.
The plaintiffs also want to provide more specific details of the alleged forgery, include Atiku’s written deposition and attach clearer copies of documents referenced in the case.
Tinubu and the APC have opposed the suit, asking the court to dismiss it on the grounds that it is incompetent and that Atiku and the ADC lack the legal standing to institute the action.
In a counter-affidavit filed on September 9, the defendants denied submitting any forged certificate to INEC for the 2023 or 2027 presidential elections.
They also denied submitting Form CF001 for either election and argued that the NYSC had never disowned the discharge certificate attributed to Tinubu.
Their lawyer, Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, argued that allegations of forgery are criminal in nature and must be established beyond reasonable doubt.
He maintained that evidence from the institution allegedly responsible for issuing the disputed certificate would be necessary to prove forgery, adding that Atiku and the ADC had not presented any statement from the NYSC denying the issuance of the certificate.
Olujinmi consequently urged the court to dismiss the suit for being incompetent and lacking sufficient legal basis.
Justice Ekwo has fixed September 28, 2026, for hearing in the matter.
