The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed November 20 to rule on an application by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to amend their suit seeking to stop President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) from participating in the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date on Tuesday after lawyers to the parties presented their final arguments on the application.
Atiku’s lawyer, Joseph Silas, urged the court to grant the request, explaining that the proposed amendment would correct errors in the original documents, provide additional evidence and clarify the allegations against the President.
The plaintiffs also sought to introduce additional documents and particulars relating to their allegation concerning the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate submitted by Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, lawyers representing Tinubu, the APC and INEC opposed the application, arguing that the proposed changes would alter the nature of the case and introduce new claims and reliefs after the constitutionally prescribed period for filing pre-election suits.
Tinubu’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, argued that the amendment went beyond correcting typographical errors and sought to introduce new evidence and alter the questions and reliefs presented in the original suit. The APC and INEC raised similar objections.
INEC maintained that granting the application could introduce a fresh cause of action or attempt to remedy a jurisdictional defect after the 14-day period prescribed by the Constitution for filing pre-election cases.
In the substantive suit, Atiku and the ADC are asking the court to disqualify Tinubu and the APC from the 2027 presidential election over questions surrounding the NYSC certificate submitted to INEC. The allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
The court’s ruling on November 20 will determine whether the plaintiffs can amend their suit as requested.
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