CITIZENS COMPASS— Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, authorised former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and his political party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to serve President Bola Tinubu with court documents through his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The directive followed an ex-parte request by Atiku in a suit challenging Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The judge ordered that the substituted service be effected within seven days and adjourned the matter until September 28 for further mention.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, was filed by Atiku and the ADC against Tinubu, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The plaintiffs are seeking Tinubu’s disqualification from the 2027 presidential election over allegations relating to documents and qualifications submitted to INEC. The allegations have been denied by Tinubu and the APC.
Atiku’s legal team had previously told the court that personal service of the originating processes on Tinubu had not been effected and sought permission to use substituted service.
The development follows earlier proceedings in which the issue of service stalled progress on the case. The court had subsequently fixed September 28 for further proceedings.
Tinubu and the APC have filed counter-affidavits and preliminary objections seeking dismissal of the suit.
They deny submitting any forged certificate to INEC for either the 2023 or 2027 presidential elections and argue that the plaintiffs lack the legal standing to institute the action. They also maintain that the NYSC has not denied issuing Tinubu’s discharge certificate.
INEC has separately challenged the competence of the suit, raising objections including alleged statute-bar, lack of locus standi, absence of a reasonable cause of action and alleged non-compliance with the Federal High Court’s pre-election practice directions.
The substantive allegations in the case have not been determined by the court.
