President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have formally denied allegations that a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC — Nigeria’s compulsory one-year national service programme for graduates) discharge certificate was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
What Atiku Is Alleging
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, now the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, filed the suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026) alongside the ADC, naming Tinubu, the APC, and INEC as defendants. He alleges the NYSC certificate Tinubu submitted bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” rather than his own, and claims Tinubu has used the document since his 1999 Lagos governorship bid.
How Tinubu and APC Have Responded
In a joint counter-affidavit filed September 9, Tinubu and the APC denied ever submitting a forged certificate to INEC for either the 2023 or 2027 elections, and denied submitting Form CF001 (the INEC candidate form) for either race. Their lawyer argued forgery is a criminal allegation that must be proven “beyond reasonable doubt,” not simply alleged.
Where INEC Stands
INEC has also moved to dismiss the suit, arguing it is statute-barred, that Atiku and the ADC lack legal standing, and that a mere allegation of forgery — without proof it was presented — doesn’t automatically trigger disqualification.
What Happens Next
Justice Inyang Ekwo has adjourned the matter to September 28, 2026, after granting Atiku permission to serve court papers on Tinubu through the APC, following earlier difficulty with personal service.
A Recurring Feature of Nigerian Politics
Eligibility challenges over academic or service certificates resurface often around major Nigerian elections, though courts have historically required a high burden of proof for forgery claims — a bar this case must now clear too.
A Closing Thought
Whatever the court decides, this case says something about trust in Nigerian politics: opponents increasingly turn to courts before the ballot box. The document at the center of it all has become a proxy for a bigger question — how far can allegations travel before proof catches up to them?
Published by Ejoh Caleb
