Nigeria’s political landscape may be heading for another legal showdown ahead of the 2027 general election as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched a fresh court battle seeking to stop President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from contesting for a second term.

In a move likely to deepen political tensions between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition coalition, Atiku on Friday personally appeared at the Federal High Court Registry in Abuja to swear to an affidavit backing a suit challenging Tinubu’s constitutional qualification to participate in the 2027 presidential election.

The suit, filed jointly by Atiku and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), targets President Tinubu, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and centres on allegations surrounding an NYSC discharge certificate allegedly submitted to the electoral body.

At the heart of the legal challenge is Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that any person who presents a forged certificate to INEC is disqualified from contesting for the office of President.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether President Tinubu should be barred from the 2027 presidential race over claims that an NYSC certificate submitted in connection with his election documents bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” rather than “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

The case marks one of the earliest and most direct legal attempts by the opposition to challenge Tinubu’s eligibility ahead of the next presidential election.

Explaining why he personally appeared to depose to the affidavit, Atiku said the matter transcends politics and touches on the integrity of Nigeria’s constitutional order.

“I came here personally because the issues before the court go to the heart of our Constitution and the integrity of the office of President,” Atiku said.

“I cannot ask Nigerians to respect the Constitution while treating a matter of this magnitude casually. I have therefore put my name, my signature and my oath behind the facts we are presenting to the court.

“Now it is President Tinubu’s turn to answer them.”

The statement was conveyed through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

Court documents seen by the plaintiffs allege that the disputed NYSC certificate does not belong to Tinubu and that the discrepancy in the name appearing on the document raises constitutional questions that only the court can resolve.

Beyond the certificate controversy, Atiku and the ADC are also challenging provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, arguing that certain sections effectively shield candidates from pre-election scrutiny regarding their qualifications.

The opposition leaders contend that no legislation can override clear constitutional provisions relating to eligibility for public office.

“This case raises a fundamental question for our democracy,” Atiku said.

“Can an Act of the National Assembly be used as a shield against an express provision of the Constitution? Can ordinary legislation create an escape route from constitutional standards applicable to those seeking the Presidency?

“Our position is that the Constitution remains supreme.”

As part of the legal action, Atiku has asked the court to compel INEC to produce President Tinubu’s Form CF001 and other nomination documents submitted for the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.

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According to the affidavit, requests for certified true copies of the documents had been made before the suit was filed but were yet to receive a response.

The former vice president insisted that the issue should be resolved through judicial examination rather than political arguments.

“We are not asking Nigerians to decide this matter on social media, and we are not asking INEC to become a court,” he said.

“We are asking the institution holding the records to produce them and the judiciary to examine the evidence and pronounce on it.”

Political observers say the suit could become one of the most consequential pre-election legal battles in recent Nigerian history if it proceeds to substantive hearing.

The case is also expected to intensify hostilities between the APC and the growing opposition alliance seeking to challenge Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Atiku argued that ordinary Nigerians are routinely subjected to scrutiny over their credentials and that those seeking the nation’s highest office should not be treated differently.

“Nigerian graduates cannot complete NYSC documentation with one identity and simply ask employers to ignore discrepancies,” he said.

“The standard cannot suddenly disappear because the applicant is seeking the highest office in the land.

“The Presidency is not an immunity certificate against constitutional scrutiny.”

The former vice president further urged INEC to demonstrate neutrality by making all relevant records available to the court, insisting that transparency was essential to preserving public confidence in the electoral process.

He maintained that his personal appearance before the court reflected his readiness to stand by the claims contained in the affidavit and submit himself to legal accountability.

“I have sworn to my case before the law. I am prepared to be held accountable for what I have placed before the court. President Tinubu should equally be prepared to answer the case against him before the law,” he said.

Counsel to the plaintiffs, Edwin Inegedu (SAN) and Joseph Onu Silas, expressed confidence in the suit, describing it as a test case that could shape future electoral disputes in Nigeria.

“This is not about privilege, personalities or presidential power,” Atiku said.

“It is about one Constitution and one standard for every Nigerian. Nobody is above the Constitution - not Atiku Abubakar, not Bola Tinubu, and certainly not the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

With the 2027 election still months away, the legal challenge has already injected fresh controversy into the political arena, setting the stage for what could become another fierce battle over the interpretation of constitutional qualifications for Nigeria’s highest office.