Politics

2027: Atiku’s suit challenging Tinubu’s eligibility stalls over service dispute

Published

2 months ago

September 1, 2026

Fuel Subsidy: Atiku's Third U-Turn in One Week Exposes Political Posturing, Presidency Says

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

2027: Atiku’s suit challenging Tinubu’s eligibility stalls over service dispute

A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned a suit filed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar seeking to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election, after Atiku’s legal team said it had been unable to personally serve the President with the originating summons.

The case came up on Tuesday before Justice Inyang Ekwo, but proceedings were dominated by a dispute over how the court process should be served on Tinubu.

Counsel to Atiku and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Joseph Onu Silas, told the court that efforts to personally deliver the originating summons to the President had been unsuccessful.

He subsequently asked Justice Ekwo to approve substituted service, which would allow the originating summons to be served through another legally recognised method.

However, counsel representing President Tinubu, Omosanya Popoola, SAN, told the court that he was willing to accept the process on behalf of his client.

Popoola urged the court to direct Atiku’s lawyer to hand the documents to him in open court for onward transmission to the President.

Atiku’s counsel declined, insisting that Popoola should first provide a written undertaking confirming that he had Tinubu’s authority to receive the court process on his behalf.

The disagreement prevented the originating summons from being served in the manner proposed by either side.

Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr Alex Izinyon, SAN, also urged the court to allow service through Tinubu’s lawyer so that the substantive issues in the case could be addressed without further delay.

Justice Ekwo, however, adjourned the matter to allow Atiku’s legal team to resolve the procedural difficulty and put its case in order.

The judge subsequently fixed September 28, 2026, for further mention of the suit.

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The development represents a procedural setback for Atiku, but it does not constitute a judicial determination of President Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 election. The court has yet to consider the substantive allegations contained in Atiku’s originating summons.

Atiku and the ADC instituted the action against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and INEC, asking the Federal High Court to determine whether the President meets the constitutional requirements to contest the 2027 presidential election.

A central part of the case concerns an alleged NYSC discharge certificate submitted to INEC in connection with Tinubu’s presidential candidacy.

Atiku alleges that the certificate bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, rather than “Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.

The former vice president is asking the court to determine whether the document belongs to Tinubu and whether any discrepancy surrounding the name or authenticity of the certificate has constitutional consequences.

Atiku is relying, among other provisions, on Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for disqualification where a person has presented a forged certificate to INEC.

The plaintiffs have also asked INEC to produce relevant Form CF001 documents submitted in connection with Tinubu’s 2023 and 2027 presidential candidacies.

Atiku’s legal team argues that the evidence should establish whether the individual named on the NYSC document is the same person as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The allegations are contained in court processes and have not been established by any court. Tinubu has not been judicially found to have submitted a forged certificate.

The suit also challenges aspects of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to the ability of individuals to question the qualification of candidates before an election.

Atiku and the ADC argue that statutory restrictions cannot override constitutional provisions concerning presidential qualification.

They contend that where legislation conflicts with the Constitution, the constitutional provisions should prevail.

The plaintiffs are therefore asking the court to determine whether the provisions of the Electoral Act can prevent them from relying on Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution to challenge Tinubu’s eligibility.

If the court eventually rules in their favour on the substantive claims, Atiku and the ADC are seeking an order disqualifying Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Ekwo also reportedly cautioned parties and their lawyers against discussing the substance of the pending case on social media.

The judge stressed the importance of allowing the judicial process to take its course and indicated that lawyers could face consequences for commenting publicly on matters before the court.

The warning comes as the case attracts significant political attention because of the identities of the parties involved and its potential implications for the 2027 presidential election.

The suit comes as political activity ahead of the 2027 election intensifies.

Tinubu, who won the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the APC, is expected to seek a second term, while Atiku has emerged as a major opposition figure on the platform of the ADC.

The two politicians were among the leading contenders in the 2023 presidential election.

Atiku’s latest legal action therefore adds a significant constitutional and electoral dispute to the increasingly competitive political environment ahead of 2027.

For now, however, the immediate hurdle remains procedural.

Until the President is properly served or the court determines an alternative method of service, the substantive questions surrounding the validity of Tinubu’s alleged NYSC certificate, his constitutional qualification and the effect of the Electoral Act 2026 cannot be fully determined in the suit.

The case has consequently been adjourned until September 28, 2026, when the Federal High Court is expected to take the next procedural step.

Whatever the eventual outcome, the court’s decision on the substantive issues could have significant implications for Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election and the legal framework governing challenges to presidential candidates.

2027: Atiku’s suit challenging Tinubu’s eligibility stalls over service dispute

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Politics

2027: Shehu Sani Breaks Silence on Claims Kwankwaso Is Working for Tinubu

Published

14 hours ago

October 17, 2026

Trends Admin

2027: Shehu Sani Breaks Silence on Claims Kwankwaso Is Working for Tinubu

Former Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani has defended Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso against allegations that the former Kano State governor is working to advance President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, blaming supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for what he described as a smear campaign following Kwankwaso’s political split with Peter Obi.

Sani made the remarks in a post on his verified X account while reacting to accusations by the ADC Presidential Campaign Council that Kwankwaso was undermining opposition efforts ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“The ADC guys are still bitter about the Peter and Kwankwaso divorce, hence the smear that they are working for the ruling party or the President,” Sani wrote.

The former lawmaker argued that Obi and Kwankwaso were established politicians with independent political identities and should be allowed to make their own decisions about political alliances without facing hostility from former allies.

According to him, political figures should have the freedom to associate with political parties and coalitions of their choice or withdraw from them without being accused of working against the interests of the opposition.

“No consideration to the fact that they are all accomplished politicians with their own independent track records, and have the right to associate and disassociate,” he added.

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Sani further criticised political groups that, in his view, attempt to control their members or punish them for choosing a different political direction.

“This is the price they will continue to pay for refusing to be supplementary, and disposable cargoes in someone’s container,” he stated.

He added: “Political parties shouldn’t be cultish groups where one can’t pull out in peace.”

The comments came after the ADC Presidential Campaign Council accused Kwankwaso, who is now the running mate to Obi under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), of weakening the opposition through his criticism of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Kwankwaso had called on Atiku, the ADC’s presidential candidate, to step aside for Obi, prompting a strong reaction from the ADC campaign council.

In a statement, the council’s Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, described Kwankwaso’s intervention as reckless and self-serving, alleging that it could deepen divisions among opposition politicians and benefit Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ologbondiyan argued that opposition figures should concentrate on challenging the Tinubu administration rather than attacking one another or attempting to influence the choice of presidential candidates in rival parties.

The ADC campaign council also questioned Kwankwaso’s political calculations, alleging that his actions were driven by personal ambition and future political negotiations rather than a genuine effort to strengthen the opposition.

However, Sani’s response challenged the suggestion that Kwankwaso’s departure from the ADC-led opposition arrangement amounted to support for Tinubu. He maintained that political disagreements and changes in alliances should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of collaboration with the ruling party.

The disagreement reflects the growing tensions among opposition politicians as parties and political leaders position themselves for the 2027 elections.

Obi and Kwankwaso’s move to the NDC followed their departure from the ADC-led opposition coalition, which had sought to bring prominent political figures together behind a common platform to challenge Tinubu.

Their exit has complicated efforts to maintain a united opposition front, with competing presidential ambitions and disagreements over candidate selection continuing to shape political discussions.

For now, the allegations that Kwankwaso is advancing Tinubu’s interests remain a claim by the ADC campaign council, while Sani has publicly rejected that interpretation. Neither the accusation nor Sani’s response, on its own, establishes that Kwankwaso is secretly working with the President.

The exchange underscores the widening political differences among opposition figures as the race towards 2027 gathers momentum.

2027: Shehu Sani Breaks Silence on Claims Kwankwaso Is Working for Tinubu

Politics

2027: Kwankwaso Signals Fuel Subsidy Comeback as NDC Vows to Crash Petrol Prices

Published

2 days ago

October 16, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Kano State governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

2027: Kwankwaso Signals Fuel Subsidy Comeback as NDC Vows to Crash Petrol Prices

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has signalled its willingness to consider restoring petrol subsidy if it wins the 2027 general election, with its vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, promising to explore all necessary measures to reduce fuel prices and ease the economic hardship facing Nigerians.

Kwankwaso made the declaration during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, October 15, saying the party’s leadership was united on the need to make energy more affordable.

The former Kano State governor said he, the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the party’s leader, Seriake Dickson, had aligned their positions on addressing the high cost of energy in the country.

According to Kwankwaso, the party would consider whatever measures were necessary to bring down petrol prices, including a possible return to fuel subsidy.

He argued that the cost of petrol had become a major burden on households and businesses, contributing to higher transportation fares, rising food prices and increased operating costs for companies.

The NDC candidate said an incoming government would need to examine available policy options to reduce the pressure on Nigerians, particularly low-income earners and small businesses struggling with the rising cost of living.

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Kwankwaso also identified corruption and irregularities in the petroleum industry as issues that must be addressed to ensure Nigerians benefit from reforms in the sector.

He suggested that reducing waste and tackling abuses could help improve the management of public resources and support efforts to make petroleum products more affordable.

The comments reopen the debate over fuel subsidy removal, one of the most consequential economic decisions taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who announced the end of the policy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023.

The removal led to a sharp increase in petrol prices, with the effects spreading across transportation, food distribution, manufacturing and other sectors of the economy.

The Tinubu administration has defended the decision as part of broader economic reforms intended to reduce the government’s subsidy burden and redirect public funds towards other priorities. However, the resulting increase in living costs has remained a major concern for many Nigerians.

Kwankwaso’s statement suggests that the NDC would be prepared to revisit the policy if elected in 2027. However, the party has yet to publish a comprehensive framework explaining how a possible subsidy scheme would operate, how much it would cost or how the government would fund it without creating additional pressure on public finances.

Questions also remain about the proposed safeguards against corruption, the method of determining eligible beneficiaries and whether any intervention would involve a blanket subsidy or a more targeted arrangement.

The NDC’s position is expected to feature in the wider debate over economic policy ahead of the 2027 presidential election, as political parties outline their plans for addressing high petrol prices, inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.

For Nigerians facing elevated transportation and household expenses, the central issue will be whether the party can translate its promise of cheaper petrol into a practical, transparent and financially sustainable policy.

2027: Kwankwaso Signals Fuel Subsidy Comeback as NDC Vows to Crash Petrol Prices

Politics

Adeleke, Davido Face Backlash Over Tinubu’s 2027 Re-election Bid

Published

2 days ago

October 16, 2026

Trends Admin

2027: Davido Says Nobody Can Force Presidential Candidate on Him, Claims He Defeated 17 Governors With Phone

Adeleke, Davido Face Backlash Over Tinubu’s 2027 Re-election Bid

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and his nephew, Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, have come under criticism on social media following renewed attention to the governor’s reported support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

The controversy centres on the perceived contradiction between Davido’s earlier opposition to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State and his uncle’s subsequent political alignment with Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The backlash intensified after Davido’s earlier social media comments criticising APC supporters in Osun resurfaced, prompting some Nigerians to question whether the Adeleke family was applying different political standards at the state and federal levels.

During the build-up to the August 2026 Osun governorship election, Davido reportedly declared that anybody supporting the APC in the state was an “enemy of progress”. The singer had openly campaigned for his uncle, who contested the election on the platform of the Accord Party.

Adeleke subsequently won re-election, while his reported support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition has reopened debate about the political positions previously expressed by the governor and his nephew.

The governor’s reported involvement in Tinubu’s re-election campaign has attracted attention because of the fierce political contest between the Accord Party and the APC during the Osun governorship election.

Reports published on October 15 indicated that Adeleke had been named among the coordinators of Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign structure in Osun State. The development prompted renewed scrutiny of his political relationship with the president.

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Adeleke had previously explained that his support for Tinubu was based partly on their shared Yoruba background and his desire to encourage the president to continue federal infrastructure projects in the South-West.

In an interview reported in August, the governor said his support was not the result of a prior agreement with the president. He also defended his engagement with Tinubu as an opportunity to discuss the development of Osun State.

The explanation has not ended the debate, with critics questioning how the governor’s current position aligns with the political messaging used to mobilise support for his re-election.

Reactions circulating on social media included accusations of political inconsistency, with some users arguing that the family had opposed the APC in Osun while appearing willing to support the party at the national level.

One commenter argued that supporters who stood behind Adeleke during the governorship contest deserved an explanation for the governor’s subsequent political alignment.

Another questioned the apparent difference between Davido’s earlier criticism of APC supporters in Osun and his uncle’s reported backing of Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Other commenters, however, framed the development as a reflection of the shifting alliances that characterise Nigerian politics, arguing that politicians frequently cooperate with former opponents when their interests converge.

The reactions reflect competing views about political loyalty, the expectations of supporters and the freedom of elected officials to make strategic decisions after an election.

Davido’s role in the controversy stems from his outspoken support for his uncle during the Osun governorship campaign. The singer had publicly criticised the APC and defended Adeleke’s administration, making his earlier posts a focal point of the latest debate.

With his uncle now associated with Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, some social media users have called on the musician to clarify his position.

However, the criticism directed at Davido is largely linked to his previous public statements and his relationship with the governor. It should not be taken as evidence that the singer has changed his political position or endorsed Tinubu’s re-election.

The dispute highlights the challenges political figures may face when their alliances change after elections, particularly when their supporters have been mobilised around strong opposition to a rival party.

For Adeleke, the debate raises questions about how his support for Tinubu will be received by voters who backed him on the Accord Party platform.

For Davido, the resurfacing of his earlier comments illustrates how statements made during election campaigns can continue to shape public perceptions long after the polls have closed.

The development also comes amid growing political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, when parties and political figures are expected to pursue alliances to strengthen their electoral prospects.

Ultimately, whether the controversy will affect the Adeleke family’s political standing in Osun remains uncertain. The online backlash, however, has brought the relationship between political loyalty, electoral promises and shifting alliances back into public debate.

The criticism quoted in this report represents the views of social media users, not established findings of wrongdoing. The available information does not establish that Adeleke or Davido personally insulted Osun voters or independently verify claims that people died specifically because of their political support for the governor.