The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 13, 2026, to hear an application by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) seeking to amend their suit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date on Monday after counsel for the parties confirmed that the relevant court processes had been served.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, was filed against President Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At Monday’s proceedings, counsel to Atiku and the ADC, Joseph Silas, told the court that all the defendants had been served within the stipulated period and that the plaintiffs had received and responded to the processes filed by the defendants.
Silas also informed the court that the plaintiffs had filed a motion seeking to amend their originating summons and that the defendants had been served with the application.
After confirming that the parties had received the relevant processes, Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter.
“This case is hereby adjourned until the 13th of October 2026, for hearing of the motion to amend originating summons,” the judge ruled.
The case had earlier been delayed by a dispute over the service of court processes on Tinubu. On September 16, the court granted the plaintiffs permission to serve the President through the APC after they said efforts to effect personal service on him had proved unsuccessful.
Tinubu’s counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, had previously raised objections concerning the service of the processes, while the APC also challenged the substituted-service order.
Atiku and the ADC instituted the suit in August, challenging Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election. Their case includes allegations concerning an NYSC discharge certificate submitted to INEC, particularly an alleged discrepancy between the name appearing on the certificate and the President’s official name.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether the alleged certificate issue affects Tinubu’s constitutional eligibility to contest the presidential election.
INEC has separately filed a response challenging the competence of the suit, including issues relating to the plaintiffs’ legal standing and alleged abuse of court process. These issues, like the substantive allegations in the case, remain for determination by the court.
