A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until September 28 further proceedings in a suit filed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar seeking to prevent President Bola Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

The case, filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, was instituted by Atiku, a presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with the party joined as the second plaintiff.

President Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are listed as the first, second and third defendants respectively.

Atiku’s challenge is based on an allegation that Tinubu submitted a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to INEC as part of the documents used to establish his eligibility for the presidency.

In an affidavit supporting the suit, Atiku alleged that the disputed certificate bore the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle,” which he claimed was different from the President’s correct name.

He argued that the document could therefore not have been legitimately issued to Tinubu and accused the President of presenting false information to the electoral commission.

Atiku further alleged that the certificate had been used by Tinubu as far back as 1999 when he contested the Lagos State governorship election.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether the alleged presentation of the certificate violated constitutional requirements for contesting the presidency.

They are also seeking an order declaring that Tinubu breached the Constitution by allegedly submitting the document to INEC during the 1999 governorship election.

Another relief sought by the plaintiffs is an order preventing Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election on the basis of the alleged certificate forgery.

At Tuesday’s proceedings before Justice Inyang Ekwo, a legal team led by Omosanya Popoola announced its appearance for Tinubu.

Atiku’s counsel, Joseph Onu, however, told the court that the plaintiffs had not personally served the President with the originating processes.

Popoola said Tinubu had authorised him to represent him in the case, but Onu maintained that the nature of the suit made proper service particularly important.

He said the plaintiffs preferred personal service on Tinubu or an order permitting an alternative method of service. He added that service through the President’s lawyers would be acceptable if Tinubu provided a written authorisation for the arrangement.

Counsel to INEC, Alex Iziyon, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, opposed the position, arguing that the appearance of Tinubu’s legal representative was sufficient to establish that the President was aware of the proceedings.

INEC also urged the court to expedite the case, noting that more than 17 days had elapsed since the suit was filed. The electoral commission said it was ready to file its defence within 10 days.

After hearing the submissions, Justice Ekwo said the court could not dictate to the plaintiffs how they should conduct their case and adjourned the matter to September 28.

The judge also cautioned the parties and their lawyers against discussing the substance of the pending case in the media or on social media.

Justice Ekwo directed that the dispute should be pursued through the judicial process and warned that lawyers could face serious consequences if their clients publicly discussed the proceedings while the case remained before the court.