Court Asked to Bar Tinubu From 2027 Election Over Alleged Forged Certificates

By Paul Joseph

A civil society organisation, the Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA), has instituted a suit before the Federal High Court in Kano seeking the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election over allegations of certificate forgery.

The suit, marked FHC/K/CS/312/2026, lists President Tinubu, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Chicago State University as defendants.

According to the court filing, the group alleged that Tinubu submitted forged academic certificates from Chicago State University and a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to INEC during the 2023 presidential election.

The plaintiff also alleged that Tinubu falsely claimed to have attended Government College Lagos, contending that the institution was established in 1974, years after he was said to have completed his secondary education.

The organisation further argued that Tinubu does not possess a valid secondary school certificate, which it said is the minimum constitutional requirement to contest for the office of President of Nigeria.

The suit also accused INEC of failing to respond to a petition submitted by the group on June 19, 2026, seeking clarification on Tinubu’s eligibility to participate in the 2027 presidential election.

In its filing, the CFRPA referenced the 2023 United States court case initiated by Atiku Abubakar, which led to the release of Tinubu’s academic records by Chicago State University.

The group alleged that the records contained inconsistencies, including what it described as a forged University of Cambridge General Certificate of Education.

Among the reliefs sought, the plaintiff is asking the court to declare Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate forged, order INEC to disqualify him from the 2027 presidential election, and direct Chicago State University to remove his name from its records.

The organisation is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining INEC from accepting or uploading Tinubu’s name as a candidate for the 2027 election.

The suit was accompanied by witness statements, affidavits and letters addressed to the NYSC and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, requesting official clarification regarding the disputed NYSC certificate.

The allegations remain before the court for determination. No court has ruled on the claims, and President Tinubu has not been found liable for any of the allegations contained in the suit.