Court fixes November 20 to rule on Atiku’s bid to amend Tinubu eligibility suit

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled November 20, 2026, to deliver its ruling on an application by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar seeking to amend a lawsuit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date on Tuesday, October 13, after hearing arguments from lawyers representing Atiku, President Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Atiku and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had approached the court seeking to disqualify Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election over allegations concerning the president’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.

The plaintiffs alleged that a forged NYSC certificate was submitted to INEC and asked the court to remove Tinubu and the APC from the list of candidates and political parties for the election.

The allegations have been denied by Tinubu and the APC.

Tinubu, APC oppose Atiku’s application

At Tuesday’s proceedings, Atiku’s lawyer, Joseph Silas, urged the court to grant permission to amend the originating summons.

However, Tinubu’s counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), opposed the application, arguing that the proposed amendment was legally defective and had been filed outside the permitted timeframe.

Olanipekun maintained that the plaintiffs were effectively attempting to introduce a fresh case rather than amend their existing lawsuit.

APC counsel Akin Olujinmi (SAN) and INEC’s lawyer Alex Izinyon (SAN) also opposed the application and asked the court to dismiss it.

Court to deliver ruling November 20

After considering the arguments, Justice Ekwo adjourned proceedings until November 20 for a ruling on the amendment application.

In their response to the substantive lawsuit, Tinubu and the APC denied submitting a forged certificate to INEC and challenged the plaintiffs’ legal standing to institute the action.

The court has not determined the truth of the certificate allegations or ruled on Tinubu’s eligibility. The November 20 ruling concerns whether the plaintiffs can amend their existing suit.