President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have petitioned the Federal High Court in Abuja. They want the court to dismiss a legal suit filed by Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The suit challenges Tinubu’s eligibility. It alleges certificate submission issues.
Certificate controversies have followed Tinubu for years. In 2019 and 2023, opponents questioned his academic records. In 2023, Atiku filed a suit over the same issue. The courts dismissed it. The current suit repeats the allegation. Atiku left the PDP for the ADC. He is seeking the presidency again in 2027. The legal strategy has shifted from the election petition tribunal to the Federal High Court.
Tinubu and the APC filed a joint counter affidavit. The APC Director of Legal Services, Sanusi Samaila, said no forged certificate was submitted to INEC. He said Form CF001 was not submitted for 2023 or 2027. The NYSC never denied issuing a discharge certificate to Tinubu, he said. The defendants argued that no constitutional provision was breached.
Their lead counsel, Akin Olujinmi, SAN, raised preliminary objections. He said forgery must be proved beyond reasonable doubt. He cited Section 135(1) of the Evidence Act. He argued that the plaintiffs produced no disclaimer from NYSC. Without that, he said, the forgery claim is idle. He also said the plaintiffs lack locus standi. He described the suit as hypothetical and academic.
INEC filed its own objection. The commission cited statute-bar, want of locus standi and abuse of court process. It also said the plaintiffs failed to comply with pre-election practice directions. The court will hear the case. The legal arguments are technical. The political stakes are high.
Winners: Tinubu and the APC, who get to argue their case. Lawyers, who earn fees. The judiciary, which demonstrates accessibility. Losers: Atiku and the ADC, if the suit is dismissed. The political process, which focuses on certificates rather than policy. Voters, who face uncertainty. The courts, which are dragged into another election dispute.
Bottom Line: Another certificate suit, another preliminary objection. The courts have dismissed similar claims before. Atiku is trying again. The legal arguments are familiar. The outcome may be too. Nigerians will learn the ruling. They will not learn much about governance.