Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are seeking to amend the suit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, September 28, adjourned until October 13 the hearing of the plaintiffs’ application to amend their originating summons in the case against Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date after the matter came up for further mention before the court.
At the proceedings, counsel to Atiku and the ADC, Joseph Silas, told the court that all the defendants had been served with the relevant processes within the stipulated period.
He also said the plaintiffs had received and responded to the processes filed by the defendants.
The case had earlier been delayed by a dispute over the service of the originating processes on Tinubu.
Counsel to the President, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), reminded the court that during the September 1 hearing, counsel to INEC, Popoola Owosanya, had offered to receive the processes on behalf of Tinubu.
Olanipekun said the offer was rejected by the plaintiffs’ counsel, who later approached the court for an order allowing substituted service on the President.
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He alleged that the plaintiffs subsequently attempted to “deceive the court” by claiming that they had been unable to serve Tinubu.
Justice Ekwo, however, urged the lawyers to focus on the business before the court.
Silas subsequently informed the court about the application seeking to amend the originating summons and said lawyers representing the defendants had been served.
After confirming that the parties had received the application, the judge adjourned the matter to October 13 for hearing.
The suit centres primarily on an alleged discrepancy involving the name on a National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate submitted to INEC and Tinubu’s official name.
The allegation forms part of the substantive issues the court is yet to determine.
INEC has also challenged the competence of the suit, raising issues concerning the plaintiffs’ locus standi and alleged abuse of court process.