The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned till October 13, 2026, hearing on an application by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress, ADC, seeking to amend their originating summons in a suit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The suit, filed against President Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was before Justice Inyang Ekwo on Monday.
At the resumed proceedings, counsel for Atiku and the ADC, Joseph Silas, informed the court that all parties had been served with the relevant court processes and that the plaintiffs had responded to processes filed by the defendants.
The matter had previously been delayed over disagreement concerning the service of court documents on President Tinubu.
Counsel to the President, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, referred to an earlier proceeding where counsel for the APC had offered to receive the documents on Tinubu’s behalf.
Olanipekun argued that the offer was rejected by the plaintiffs’ lawyer, who later sought permission for substituted service on the President.
He alleged that the plaintiffs subsequently attempted to mislead the court over the issue.
The lawyer said the plaintiffs were claiming that they had been unable to serve the President despite the earlier developments.
Justice Ekwo, however, directed the lawyers to concentrate on the matter scheduled for the day.
Silas thereafter brought the plaintiffs’ application seeking to amend the originating summons to the court’s attention, stating that the defendants had been notified.
After confirming that the parties had received the application, Justice Ekwo adjourned proceedings.
The judge said, “This case is hereby adjourned until the 13th of October 2026, for hearing of the motion to amend originating summons.”
Atiku and the ADC instituted the suit in August, questioning Tinubu’s eligibility to participate in the 2027 presidential election.
One of the issues raised by the plaintiffs concerns an alleged discrepancy in the name contained in a National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate submitted to INEC and the President’s official name.
The substantive claims are yet to be determined by the court.
On September 16, the court granted the plaintiffs permission to serve Tinubu through the APC after they told the court that attempts to serve him personally had been unsuccessful.
The APC subsequently challenged the order, arguing that Tinubu’s legal representatives had already received the originating processes and filed a defence before the application for substituted service was made.
Meanwhile, INEC has filed its response challenging the competence of the suit, including arguments concerning the plaintiffs’ legal standing and alleged abuse of court process.
