Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dragged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking his disqualification from the 2027 presidential election over an alleged forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), personally appeared at the court registry on Friday to depose to an affidavit supporting the suit filed against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The suit relies on Sections 137(1)(j), 139(1)(a)(i) and 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

At the centre of the case is the allegation that an NYSC discharge certificate submitted to INEC in Tinubu’s name bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” rather than “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Atiku and the ADC are asking the court to determine whether the disputed document constitutes a forged certificate capable of disqualifying Tinubu under Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution.

He also want INEC compelled to produce Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted for the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.

The plaintiffs further challenge provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 which they contend restrict pre-election challenges to the qualification of presidential candidates, arguing that such provisions cannot override the Constitution.

Atiku said the case was about ensuring that constitutional standards were applied equally to all presidential candidates.