The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until October 13, 2026, to hear an application by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) 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 confirming that lawyers representing Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been served with the application.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, was filed in August over an alleged discrepancy between the name on a National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate submitted to INEC and the president’s official name.
At Monday’s proceedings, counsel for the plaintiffs, Joseph Silas, told the court that all defendants had been served with the required processes and that the plaintiffs had responded to their filings.
However, Tinubu’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, challenged the plaintiffs’ earlier claim that they had difficulty serving the president.
Olanipekun recalled that, during proceedings on September 1, counsel for the APC had offered to receive the court documents on Tinubu’s behalf, but the plaintiffs rejected the offer.
He accused the plaintiffs of subsequently misleading the court by seeking permission to serve Tinubu through alternative means despite the earlier offer.
Justice Ekwo urged the lawyers to focus on the matter before the court.
Silas then informed the judge of the plaintiffs’ application to amend their originating summons and confirmed that the defendants had been notified.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to October 13 for the hearing of the application.
The proceedings had previously been delayed by disagreements over service of court documents. On September 16, the court granted the plaintiffs permission to serve Tinubu through the APC after they reported difficulties with personal service.
The APC challenged that order, arguing that Tinubu’s lawyers had already received the originating processes and filed his defence before the application for substituted service.
INEC has also challenged the competence of the suit, raising objections concerning the plaintiffs’ legal standing and alleging abuse of court process.
The substantive allegations concerning Tinubu’s eligibility have yet to be determined by the court.
