TD A civil society organisation (CSO), the Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA), has asked the Federal High Court to disqualify President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election over alleged certificate forgery.
CFRPA alleged that forged or invalid academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) credentials were presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The suit, initially filed at the Federal High Court in Kano and marked FHC/K/CS/312/2026, names Tinubu, INEC and Chicago State University (CSU) as defendants.
The allegations are contained in court documents cited by Daily Trust and have not been established by a final judgment in the case.
Group Challenges Tinubu’s Academic Certificate
According to CFRPA’s statement of claim, the organisation alleges that Tinubu presented questionable academic credentials from Chicago State University.
It also condemned what it describes as a forged NYSC discharge certificate submitted to INEC during the 2023 presidential election.
The group further challenges the President’s claimed secondary-school history.
CFRPA alleges that Tinubu claimed to have attended Government College Lagos and graduated in 1970, while the organisation contends that the school was established in 1974.
Based on that claim, the organisation argues that questions arise concerning the validity of the secondary-school qualification relied upon for Tinubu’s presidential eligibility.
Reference to Chicago State University Records
The plaintiffs also rely on records released by Chicago State University following litigation in the United States involving Atiku Abubakar.
CFRPA referenced the 2023 U.S. case, In Re: Application of Atiku Abubakar, in which a federal court ordered Chicago State University to produce records concerning Tinubu.
The organisation argues that the documents contain inconsistencies which, in its view, support its allegations concerning the authenticity of documents associated with Tinubu’s educational history.
However, reporting on the underlying records indicates that the documents confirmed Tinubu attended Chicago State University and received a degree in 1979.
Atiku’s camp subsequently maintained that other discrepancies in the records remained relevant to its forgery allegations.
NYSC Certificate Also Challenged
CFRPA has also raised questions over the NYSC discharge certificate attributed to Tinubu.
The organisation reportedly wrote to the NYSC Director-General and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation seeking clarification and a possible disclaimer concerning the document.
The group had earlier petitioned INEC on June 19, 2026, asking the electoral commission to clarify the status of Tinubu’s academic and NYSC credentials.
What CFRPA Wants from the Court
Among the reliefs sought by the organisation are declarations concerning the alleged forgery of Tinubu’s academic credentials and an order directing INEC to disqualify him from the 2027 presidential election.
The plaintiffs are also asking the court to direct Chicago State University to remove Tinubu’s name from its records and to permanently restrain INEC from uploading his name as a presidential candidate.
These are prayers being sought by the plaintiffs; the court has not determined that the allegations are established.
Case Later Transferred from Kano to Abuja
The case on Tinubu’s certificate subsequently became the subject of another legal controversy after it was transferred from the Federal High Court in Kano to the Abuja Division.
CFRPA criticised the transfer and alleged that it could undermine confidence in the proceedings.
The organisation specifically questioned the circumstances surrounding the decision.
Those claims are CFRPA’s position and have not been established as findings of the court.
Separate Atiku Suit Emerges
The CFRPA case should also be distinguished from a separate suit filed by former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
In the Abuja case, Atiku and the ADC are challenging Tinubu’s eligibility for the 2027 election over an alleged NYSC discharge certificate bearing the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle.”
Tinubu and the APC have denied submitting a forged certificate to INEC.
Meanwhile, INEC has separately challenged the competence of Atiku’s case and asked the court to dismiss it.
What Happens Next on Tinubu’s Certificate Case
The CFRPA litigation places questions about Tinubu’s educational and NYSC credentials before the courts as the country approaches the 2027 presidential election.
For now, the allegations about Tinubu’s certificate remain claims by the plaintiffs.
Whether the documents were forged, whether the alleged discrepancies have legal consequences, and whether they can constitute grounds for disqualification are matters for determination through the judicial process.
