By our reporter
The Incorporated Trustees of the Centre for Reforms and Public Advocacy, CFRPA, has filed a suit before the Federal High Court, Kano Judicial Division, asking the court to disqualify President Bola Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election. The suit, marked FHC/KN/CS/312/2026, was filed on June 26, 2026.
The court processes list President Tinubu as the 1st defendant, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as the 2nd defendant, and Chicago State University as the 3rd defendant.
The plaintiff is asking the court to declare that Tinubu allegedly presented forged academic credentials to INEC to support his qualification for the 2023 presidential election. It specifically challenges the authenticity of a Chicago State University certificate submitted to INEC. 989e
CFRPA also alleged that Tinubu submitted a fake National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate to INEC during the 2023 election. The group further contends he does not possess a valid secondary school certificate, which it describes as the minimum constitutional requirement to contest the presidency. It also claims Government College Lagos was established in 1974, four years after he allegedly graduated.
Among its prayers, CFRPA wants the court to order INEC to disqualify Tinubu from the 2027 poll and restrain the commission from accepting his nomination. It also seeks an order directing Chicago State University to strike his name from its records and a perpetual injunction stopping INEC from recognising him as a candidate. 989e
The group said it relied on documents released during 2023 U.S. discovery proceedings involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Chicago State University. It referenced the 2023 U.S. case In Re: Application of Atiku Abubakar, No. 23 CV 05099, which compelled CSU to release Tinubu’s academic records. The plaintiff argues those records show inconsistencies and what it calls a forged University of Cambridge GCE.
CFRPA said INEC failed to act on a petition dated June 19, 2026, in which it requested clarification on Tinubu’s eligibility. In that petition, the group cited Section 137(1)(j) and Section 285(14) of the 1999 Constitution on disqualification for forged certificates. 0f2ad67a
The suit revives a controversy that dominated the aftermath of the 2023 election over Tinubu’s academic and NYSC records. The CFRPA says Tinubu “knowingly presented forged academic credentials and false information to INEC in support of his qualification”, and that the CSU certificate is “forged, invalid and incapable of conferring any constitutional qualifications
No court decision has been issued yet. The Federal High Court will determine whether the allegations meet the legal threshold for disqualification. As of filing, President Tinubu, INEC and Chicago State University had been named as defendants to respond to the claims.
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