A civil society organisation, the Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA), has approached the Federal High Court in Kano, asking for the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over alleged certificate forgery.
In a suit marked FHC/K/CS/312/2026, the group named President Tinubu, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Chicago State University as defendants.
The plaintiff is seeking court orders nullifying Tinubu’s eligibility to contest future elections, alleging that he presented questionable academic credentials during the 2023 presidential election process.
These include certificates said to have been issued by Chicago State University, as well as a disputed National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.
According to the originating processes, the organisation also challenged the authenticity of Tinubu’s educational background, claiming inconsistencies in records relating to his secondary school history.
It argued that the president did not attend Government College Lagos as claimed, insisting that available timelines suggest discrepancies in his academic record.
The group further maintained that INEC failed to act on a petition it submitted in June 2026, in which it demanded a review of the president’s eligibility based on the alleged document concerns.
CFRPA also referenced earlier proceedings in a United States court, which it said compelled Chicago State University to release academic records connected to Tinubu.
It argued that the documents raised questions it described as inconsistencies in identification and academic claims.
Among the reliefs sought, the plaintiff is asking the court to declare the certificates invalid, compel INEC to remove Tinubu’s name from the list of candidates for the 2027 election, and restrain the electoral body from accepting his nomination in future polls.
It also asked the court to direct relevant institutions to clarify or disown the disputed documents.
The group attached affidavits, witness statements, and correspondence to the NYSC and federal authorities, urging them to confirm or deny the authenticity of the certificates in question.
The case has yet to be heard, and no response has been entered into evidence by the defendants at this stage.
