Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has opened a fresh two-front offensive against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, taking his battle into the courtroom while escalating his political attack over local government autonomy.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to disqualify Tinubu from contesting the 2027 election over a disputed National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.

At the same time, the former vice president has accused the Tinubu administration of failing to fully implement the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local governments, promising to enforce direct payment of federal allocations to the councils if elected president.

But the legal offensive suffered an early setback yesterday after a dispute over how Tinubu should be served with the court processes stalled proceedings.

Atiku’s counsel, Joseph Onu Silas, told Justice Inyang Ekwo that attempts to personally serve the President with the Originating Summons had been unsuccessful and asked the court to permit another form of service.

Tinubu’s counsel, Omosanya Popoola, offered to accept the processes on the President’s behalf.

Atiku’s legal team, however, rejected the offer, insisting that Popoola first provide a written undertaking confirming that he had Tinubu’s authority to receive the documents.

An intervention by Dr Alex Izinyon, who sought to persuade the court to direct service through Tinubu’s counsel, failed to resolve the dispute.

Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned the matter until September 28 for further mention and to allow the plaintiffs regularise service.

NYSC CERTIFICATE BATTLE

Atiku and the ADC are challenging Tinubu’s eligibility to seek re-election over an NYSC discharge certificate bearing the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” instead of “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are defendants in the suit.

Atiku alleges that the disputed certificate does not belong to the President and is asking the court to determine whether its alleged presentation to INEC has constitutional consequences for Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.

The allegation has not been judicially established.

The controversy over the document is not new.

During proceedings before the Presidential Election Petition Court in 2023, Atiku and the Peoples Democratic Party tendered certified copies of documents relating to Tinubu, including an NYSC discharge certificate bearing the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle.”

The documents were tendered through subpoenaed witness Mike Enahoro-Ebah alongside Tinubu’s Chicago State University records, INEC nomination documents and a certificate of service from Mobil Nigeria Plc.

Although counsel for Tinubu, INEC and the APC opposed their admissibility, the tribunal admitted the documents in evidence.

Atiku and the ADC are now relying, among other provisions, on Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for disqualification from election as President where a person has presented a forged certificate to INEC.

They are also relying on Sections 139(1)(a)(i) and 285(14)(c) of the Constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The plaintiffs want INEC to produce Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted for the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.

“If the certificate belongs to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, let that be established before the court,” Atiku said in his affidavit, arguing that the issue requires judicial determination rather than political attacks.

The ADC and Atiku are also challenging provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, which they contend unlawfully restrict who may challenge the qualification of a presidential candidate.

They argue that statutory restrictions cannot override constitutional provisions on eligibility for the presidency.

The suit ultimately seeks orders barring Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election if the court upholds the plaintiffs’ allegations.

Atiku and the ADC are represented by Edwin Inegedu and Joseph Onu Silas.

SECOND FRONT: LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS

Away from the courtroom, Atiku opened a second front by accusing the Tinubu administration of failing to fully implement the Supreme Court judgment on local government financial autonomy.

He promised that, if elected president, his administration would ensure that allocations from the Federation Account go directly to the 774 local government councils.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, Atiku said enforcing the judgment would strengthen grassroots development, improve accountability and give local governments greater financial independence.

“My administration will respect court judgments, protect local government autonomy, ensure that public funds reach the people for whom they are meant, and restore true federalism,” he said.

The Supreme Court had, on July 11, 2024, ruled that allocations from the Federation Account should be paid directly to the 774 local governments rather than through state governments.

The judgment followed a suit filed by the Federal Government against the 36 states over the administration and funding of local governments.

Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of failing to fully enforce the judgment because of its reluctance to confront state governors over control of council funds.

He further alleged that the situation was being exploited for political advantage ahead of the 2027 election.

The statement accused the administration of avoiding a confrontation with APC governors who, according to Atiku, previously controlled local government funds and could use the resources for political purposes.

The allegation was made by Atiku and has not been independently established.

The Presidency has previously maintained its support for local government financial autonomy.

Tinubu has also warned governors that the Federal Government could resort to an executive order to enforce direct allocation to local governments if the Supreme Court judgment remains unimplemented.

Atiku, however, said he would go further by ensuring that the judgment is fully enforced and local governments regain greater control over their finances.

According to him, direct funding would bring development closer to Nigerians, reduce poverty and strengthen the capacity of local governments to respond to insecurity, including crime and terrorism.

With the latest moves, Atiku has transformed his confrontation with Tinubu ahead of 2027 into a battle on two major fronts — Tinubu’s eligibility to remain on the presidential ballot and the administration’s handling of local government finances.

The developments are setting the stage for a potentially fierce legal and political contest between the two camps as the 2027 presidential race gathers momentum.