The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned proceedings in a suit filed by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, seeking to disqualify President Bola Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

The case was stalled on Tuesday over the failure to serve Tinubu with the originating summons.

Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter until September 28 for further mention after counsel to the plaintiffs, Joseph Onu, informed the court that efforts to personally serve the President with the court documents had been unsuccessful.

Onu said the plaintiffs were seeking to serve Tinubu personally or, where necessary, through substituted service.

However, proceedings were complicated when a lawyer representing Tinubu attempted to receive the originating summons on his behalf.

Atiku’s counsel rejected the attempt, insisting that the documents must either be served personally on the President or through an order of the court authorising substituted service.

The dispute over service consequently prevented the court from proceeding to consider the substantive issues raised in the suit.

The suit, filed by Atiku, challenges Tinubu’s eligibility to seek re-election in 2027 over an alleged discrepancy in the name contained in the President’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the plaintiffs, the certificate bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, while the President’s official name is “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Atiku and the ADC are asking the court to determine whether the alleged discrepancy in the names affects Tinubu’s constitutional qualification to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Tinubu is listed as the defendant in the suit, which centres on the NYSC certificate submitted to INEC among the documents required for his participation in the 2023 presidential election.

Following Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter to September 28 for further mention.

The legal challenge comes as both Atiku and Tinubu prepare for another presidential contest in 2027. Tinubu, who defeated Atiku in the 2023 election, is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Atiku is the ADC’s presidential candidate.