By Our Correspondent
Court fixes September 28 for further proceedings as dispute over service of originating summons delays substantive hearing
ABUJA — The legal battle surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election has suffered another setback, after the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned a suit filed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar challenging the President’s qualification.
The case, which could have significant implications for Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, was stalled on Tuesday following a disagreement over the proper service of court documents on President Tinubu.
Atiku’s legal team informed the court that efforts to personally serve the President with the originating summons had not been successful. Consequently, the team sought the court’s permission to serve the documents through an alternative method.
However, proceedings took a different turn when counsel representing President Tinubu indicated a willingness to receive the documents on the President’s behalf.
Atiku’s lawyer reportedly declined to proceed on that basis without a written undertaking confirming that the President’s counsel had the necessary authority to accept the documents.
With the issue unresolved, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter until September 28, 2026, when the case will come up for further mention.
The suit is attracting considerable attention because it seeks to question Tinubu’s eligibility ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Atiku’s legal challenge reportedly raises questions concerning the documentation submitted in relation to the President’s qualifications, including an alleged discrepancy involving the name appearing on an NYSC discharge certificate.
Atiku’s camp contends that the alleged discrepancy deserves judicial scrutiny and could have implications for the constitutional requirements governing eligibility to contest for the presidency.
The Tinubu camp, however, has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing merely because the suit was filed. The allegations remain matters for determination by the court, and the President retains the right to defend his eligibility and challenge the claims made against him.
The latest development means that the substantive issues raised by Atiku have yet to receive a judicial determination. The court must first deal with the procedural question surrounding service before the matter can advance to the next stage.
The case comes at a politically sensitive period, with Nigeria’s major political actors already positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections. Any judicial decision capable of affecting a major presidential contender is therefore likely to attract intense public and political interest.
For Atiku and his supporters, the case represents another avenue through which they hope to scrutinise the legal requirements surrounding Tinubu’s potential candidacy.
For the Tinubu administration and its supporters, the proceedings present an opportunity to defend the President’s constitutional qualification and put the allegations before a competent court.
As the September 28 date approaches, political observers will be watching closely to see whether the procedural hurdle is resolved and whether the court will allow the case to proceed to substantive arguments.
For now, the battle is far from over. The Federal High Court has not ruled that President Tinubu is ineligible to contest the 2027 election, nor has it dismissed Atiku’s challenge.
The next major development is expected when the case returns to court on September 28, potentially setting the stage for a more substantive legal battle over one of the most closely watched political questions ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
