Tinubu’s certificate: Atiku drags President to Court, personally deposes to affidavit

 

Former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, on Friday personally appeared at the Registry of the Federal High Court, Abuja, where he deposed to an affidavit in support of a suit challenging the qualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The action, instituted by Atiku and the ADC against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), invokes, among other provisions, Sections 137(1)(j), 139(1)(a)(i) and 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
At the heart of the action is Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution, which provides that a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if he has presented a forged certificate to INEC.
The suit specifically asks the court to determine whether Tinubu and the APC should be disqualified from the 2027 presidential election over the plaintiffs’ allegation that Tinubu presented a forged NYSC certificate to INEC in connection with the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.
Speaking after personally taking the oath, Atiku said his presence at the court registry was deliberate.
“I came here personally because the issues before the court go to the heart of our Constitution and the integrity of the office of President. I cannot ask Nigerians to respect the Constitution while treating a matter of this magnitude casually. I have therefore put my name, my signature and my oath behind the facts we are presenting to the court.
“Now it is President Tinubu’s turn to answer them.”
In his affidavit, Atiku alleges that Tinubu submitted to INEC an NYSC discharge certificate bearing the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, which, according to the plaintiffs, is different from the President’s name, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The affidavit further alleges that the same NYSC certificate was submitted in connection with the 2027 presidential election and contends that the document is not a certificate obtained by Tinubu. These are allegations that the plaintiffs have now placed formally before the Federal High Court for judicial determination.
Significantly, Atiku has also placed INEC on notice to produce Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted in connection with the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections. The affidavit states that Atiku had applied for certified true copies of the relevant form before filing the suit but had received no response at the time the processes were prepared.
Atiku said:
“This is precisely why we have gone to court. We are not asking Nigerians to decide this matter on social media, and we are not asking INEC to become a court. We are asking the institution holding the records to produce them and the judiciary to examine the evidence and pronounce on it.
“If the certificate belongs to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, let that be established before the court. If ‘Tinubu Bola Adekunle’ and ‘Bola Ahmed Tinubu’ are one and the same person for the purpose of that certificate, let the evidence establish it. These are questions that deserve answers, not political insults or presidential silence.”
The case goes beyond the certificate itself.
Atiku and the ADC are also challenging provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026 which, according to their written address, effectively restrict who may challenge the qualification of a candidate at pre-election stage and the removal of  qualification as a ground  for questioning an election as envisaged by section 139(a)(i) of the Constitution which empowers the National Assembly to make laws that allows the questioning of whether a person elected into the office of President is qualified.
Their argument is that legislation cannot be used to shut the door against enforcement of an express constitutional provision. They contend that where an Act of the National Assembly conflicts with the Constitution, the Constitution must prevail.
“This case therefore raises a fundamental question for our democracy,” Atiku said.
“Can an Act of the National Assembly be used as a shield against an express provision of the Constitution? Can we write into ordinary legislation an escape route from a constitutional standard applicable to everyone seeking the Presidency? Our position is that the Constitution remains supreme.”
The originating summons asks the Federal High Court to determine whether the statutory restrictions complained of can prevent the plaintiffs from invoking Section 137(1)(j), and ultimately whether Tinubu and the APC should be disqualified from participating in the 2027 presidential election if the plaintiffs’ case is established.
Among the substantive reliefs sought is an order disqualifying Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election on the grounds pleaded by the plaintiffs.
Atiku added:
“Nobody should misunderstand what is at stake. Nigerian graduates cannot complete NYSC documentation with one identity and simply ask employers to ignore discrepancies. Young Nigerians seeking ordinary jobs are subjected to rigorous scrutiny of their certificates. The standard cannot suddenly disappear because the applicant is seeking the highest office in the land.
“The Presidency is not an immunity certificate against constitutional scrutiny.”
Atiku said the judicial action also places a responsibility on INEC to demonstrate its neutrality by making the relevant records available to the court.
His affidavit expressly states that INEC, as a neutral public institution, is duty-bound to uphold the Constitution regardless of whose political interest may be affected.
“INEC is holding the documents. The court has the jurisdiction to examine the issues. President Tinubu has the opportunity to defend himself. That is the constitutional process, and nobody should be afraid of it.
“The 2027 election must begin with clarity about the qualification of those seeking the Presidency. Nigerians should not be asked to vote first and investigate later.”
Atiku stressed that his personal appearance to depose to the affidavit underscored his willingness to submit himself to the same constitutional standards he demands of others.
“I have sworn to my case before the law. I am prepared to be held accountable for what I have placed before the court. President Tinubu should equally be prepared to answer the case against him before the law.
Counsel to the Plaintiffs, Edwin Inegedu, SAN, and Joseph Onu Silas, Esq., expressed confidence in the case. Speaking for the legal team, Silas Onu said they had carefully reviewed the law and placed their arguments before the Court, adding that they were prepared to confront the Defendants’ case once served. “We are confident that justice will prevail. This case presents an important opportunity to further develop Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence,” he said.
“This is not about privilege, personalities or presidential power. It is about one Constitution and one standard for every Nigerian.
“Nobody is above the Constitution — not Atiku Abubakar, not Bola Tinubu, and certainly not the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

NSCDC boss in Osun, vows decisive action against election disruptors

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, has paid an operational visit to Osun State to assess security preparedness ahead of the upcoming election.
During the visit, the CG met with the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, and personnel of the NSCDC Osun State Command.
Addressing stakeholders, the CG reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to ensuring a peaceful, free, fair, and credible election. He said the NSCDC will also intensify efforts to protect critical national assets and infrastructure.
“We do not want any bloodshed,” the CG stated. “We will decisively deal with anyone who attempts to disrupt the electoral process.”
Governor Adeleke commended the CG for the visit and praised the NSCDC for safeguarding critical assets in the state. He expressed concern over recent threats by political factions to intimidate voters and urged the Corps to deploy adequate personnel to prevent violence.
At the INEC State Headquarters, the CG met with the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola. He reiterated that the protection of electoral materials and facilities falls within the NSCDC’s mandate and pledged full operational support to the Commission.
“The NSCDC is an integral part of election security. We are partners in this process, and anyone who attempts to vandalize assets or interfere with the election will be seriously dealt with,” he warned.
Concluding his tour at the NSCDC Osun Command, the CG directed officers to be professional, avoid being trigger-happy, obey rules of engagement, and collaborate closely with the Nigeria Police Force and other sister agencies to ensure a secure election. Authority

Vandalism: Five transmission towers collapse along Ikot Abasi – Eket 132kV Line

 

By Okey Muogbo

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced the collapse of five transmission towers along the Ikot Abasi – Eket 132kV Double Circuit Transmission Line as a result of severe acts of vandalism.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Management of TCN on Friday.

According to the statement, extensive damage was discovered during a routine joint line patrol conducted on August 9, 2026, by TCN linesmen.

Preliminary assessment, it said, “indicates that critical structural bracing members were removed from Towers N9, N10, N11, N12, N13, and N15, resulting in the collapse of five towers.

“Further inspection revealed that structural members from seven additional towers along the same transmission corridor had also been removed and stolen. These towers are now structurally compromised and pose a risk of further collapse.

“To mitigate the impact on electricity supply, the network has been reconfigured to prioritize supply from Ibom Power.”

On efforts to remedy the situation, TCN Management said it is mobilizing an urgent intervention to complete the reconstruction of the affected sections of the line. Security agencies have also been notified to aid investigations and prevent further acts of vandalism along the line route.

“We condemn this act of sabotage and reiterate our commitment to working hard to maintain a robust and reliable national grid,”, the statement concluded.

 

Finance Ministry, NNPCL clash over NEITI audit queries on $3bn loan, $722m LNG dividends

The Federal Ministry of Finance on Thursday accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of withholding financial records needed to respond to queries raised in the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative 2021 to 2023 Oil and Gas Sector Audit report.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Raymond Omachi, made the allegation while appearing before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts. The committee is probing several financial infractions flagged in the NEITI report.
One of the major issues highlighted was a $3 billion pre-export financing loan taken in 2012 to settle subsidy payments. NEITI said recovery of the loan from monthly Federation revenue under the pre-export financing and Project Eagle agreement remains unclear.
Another query concerns $722.6 million paid in 2021 by Nigeria LNG to NNPC as dividends and interest earned by the Federation. According to NEITI, the money was neither remitted to the Federation Account nor properly accounted for.
The audit also observed that none of the nation’s refineries was operational in 2021 despite N200 billion spent on them. NEITI further flagged $221.283 million in overhead costs incurred by NAPIMS in 2021. The Ministry could not provide explanations for both.
Responding, Omachi said the Ministry was not directly involved in the transactions. He stated that agencies involved, particularly NNPCL, have refused to cooperate by providing accurate records required for reconciliation.
“We don’t have direct involvement in all the issues raised and the required provision of financial records from the affected agencies, particularly NNPCL, NUPRC etc, is not there,” he told the committee.
To resolve the discrepancies, Omachi said the Ministry has engaged Arthur Andersen LLP to carry out a forensic audit of all the transactions. He said the firm is expected to provide clarity for proper reconciliation.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, questioned when the forensic audit report would be ready, noting that the timeline had already been extended twice from six months to one year.
Dankwambo directed the Permanent Secretary to convene a joint meeting with NNPCL, NUPRC and the Ministry of Finance. He stressed that the issues are in the public domain and being monitored internationally, adding that all records must be clarified in the interest of Nigeria.

NEITI Audit: Senate threatens sanctions against Seplat, Aradel, others

The Senate Public Accounts Committee has given Seplat Energy and three other oil firms 48 hours to appear before it over allegations contained in NEITI audit reports for 2021 to 2023.
Apart from Seplat, the companies listed are Network E & P Nigeria Limited, All Grace Energy Limited and Aradel Energy Limited. The committee said they risk legislative action if they fail to honour the summons.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, issued the ultimatum on Tuesday after members expressed displeasure over the companies’ repeated non-appearance.
The issue generated heated debate after Senator Abdul Ningi revealed that Network E & P wrote to the committee stating that NUPRC was its only regulatory body.
Ningi condemned the position, calling it an affront to the Senate. He insisted that the legislature can invite any individual or institution under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution.
“The Senate and by extension, the National Assembly, is the custodian of Nigeria law that has power to invite anybody or agency for explanations on issues raised against them,” he argued.
Senator Shehu Kaka Lawan, Borno Central, backed Ningi and urged the committee to invoke its powers. He specifically called out Network E & P for ignoring two invitations.
Following this, the committee ordered the MD of Network E & P to appear on Thursday or face sanctions. The same directive was extended to Seplat, All Grace Energy and Aradel Energy.
In a separate case, Dubri Oil Company Limited appeared before the committee and disputed a $3.025 million debt for royalty and gas flare contained in the NEITI report.
Dubri’s representative, Soyode Olusoji Clement, said the figure came up during a reconciliation issue with NUPRC that has now been resolved. He submitted documents to that effect, and the committee said it would review them before issuing a clean bill of health.

Time to reverse Nigeria’s dwindling football fortunes 

By Chiedu Uche Okoye
In today’s world, football is the most popular sporting activity. From Brazil to Ghana, and from Italy to Australia, people who are from different races play the game of football. And, globally, millions of football fans follow football events and competitions, religiously. Back in Nigeria, football has been our only unifying factor as we do bury our ethnic and religious differences to cheer our national teams whenever they are playing against other countries during international football competitions.
In the past, when sporting competitions were integrated into secondary schools’ curricula, football competitions were organized for secondary schools in different states in the country, periodically. And many football stars who played for our national teams were discovered during such secondary schools’ football competitions.
For example, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, who won the Nation’s Cup for Nigeria as both a player and a coach, excelled in the round leather game while attending St. Finbarr’s College, Lagos. Another footballer, Henry Nwosu, who was a member of the Green Eagles team that won the 1980 Nation’s Cup, played secondary school football, too. And Arthur Ebunam, who once played for Enugu Rangers International, was a member of the Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha football team that won the world secondary school football championship in Dublin, Ireland.
A great number of our secondary schools’ football prodigies matured to play for our national football teams and for renowned club sides in Nigeria and beyond. At that time, football clubs that reigned in Nigeria were Stationery Stores of Lagos, IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Enugu Rangers International FC, Flash Flamingoes of Benin, Sharks of Portharcourt, Calabar Rovers, Spartans of Owerri, Mighty Jets of Jos, Racca Rovers of Kano, and others. And such talented footballers as Patrick Okala, Yisa Sofoluwe, Adokiye Amasiemeka, Jude Agada, Mike Emenalo, Friday Ekpo, and others dominated our football scene, then.
Again, our national football teams imprinted our country’s name in the collective psyche of millions of people by winning international football competitions. In 1985, against all expectations, the Nduka Ugbade led Golden Eaglets of Nigeria won the maiden edition of the Kodak under-17 male football world cup. And at the Saudi ’89 under-21 football world cup, the Flying Eagles of Nigeria recorded a historical and memorable comeback in one of their matches and went ahead to win the silver cup in the competition.
More so, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, our under-23 football team, the Dream Team, not only dazzled football fans, globally, with their breathtaking football displays, but they, also, won the Olympic soccer gold. Before then, Emmanuel Amuneke, a great winger, helped the Super Eagles to win the 1994 Nation’s Cup with his powerful strikes.
But today, our national football teams are struggling to win matches at continental and global football fiestas. The teams have not realized their full potentialities. The star-studded Super Eagles of Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2022 and 2026 senior football world cups. Yet, the Super Eagles parade an array of football stars, who play topflight football in Europe, Asia, and America. Are Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Maduka Okoye, Victor Osimhen, and Chukwueze not great footballers?
Again, recently, our female national football team, the Super Falcons, which was tipped to win the 2026 WAFCON, fumbled and wobbled at the competition when the ovation was loudest. The less-fancied Cameroonian national team eliminated the Super Falcons from the WAFCON competition. Millions of Nigerians have not come to terms with the Super Falcons ouster from the 2026 WAFCON competition.
Now that the Lionesses of Cameroun have eliminated our senior female national team from the 2026 WAFCON, the Super Falcons will walk a tight rope to qualify for the forthcoming female football world cup. The team will take on South Africa in a play-off. But the Super Falcons, who are struggling to qualify for the forthcoming senior female football world cup, have a surfeit of quality players who play professional football in Europe and America. Are Michelle Alozie, Assisat Oshoala, Esther Okonkwo, and Chiamaka Nnadozie not great female footballers, who can hold their own during football matches?
But the fact is that Nigeria’s dwindling football fortunes are caused by lacklustre, corrupt, and myopic football leadership, and not by the players that don our national teams’ jerseys. So those who supervised our national teams that performed abysmally at international football fiestas should be barred from seeking re-election into football offices.
What should be done is to elect new football administrators, who know their onions about football administration. Our football bodies need a crop of new leaders who will bring fresh ideas into our country’s football administration. It is they that will revamp football administration in Nigeria, and return our national teams to their winning ways.
Our placing of square pegs in round holes, which is caused by the existence of the culture of corruption and political patronage in Nigeria, is at the root of our national teams’ poor performances in international competitions. We should do away it if we want to regain our lost football glories.
It is high time seasoned and patriotic football administrators took over our football bodies and ignite our football renaissance.

Osun: Obi decries Senator Fadahunsi’s threat on voters, demands retraction

 

 

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate in the 2027 poll, Peter Obi, has described as deeply concerning the tactless and provocative statement of Senator Francis Fadahunsi on Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Osun State.

Fadahunsi who belongs to the All Progressive Congress (APC) had threatened to kill supporters of Accord Party on the election day.

Obi also demands his immediate retraction of the statement and that Osun voters be allowed to determine who peacefully governs them.

Writing on his X handle, the former Anambra State Governor said, “I wish to express my deep regret and profound concern regarding the recent inflammatory comments and threat-laden rhetoric attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi in the lead-up to the Osun State election on Saturday.

 

“As a high-ranking lawmaker representing the people in the National Assembly, Senator Fadahunsi carries a solemn constitutional and moral responsibility to promote peace, uphold democratic norms, and foster unity. It is therefore alarming and unacceptable that a distinguished senator would deploy intimidation, incendiary remarks, or political threats capable of heightening tensions, instilling fear in voters, and potentially inciting electoral violence in Osun State.

 

“Elections are meant to be a celebration of democratic franchise – a peaceful exercise through which citizens freely choose their leaders without intimidation, harassment, or coercion. Resorting to threats of force or disruption undermines the integrity of our electoral process, disrespects the electorate, and threatens the fragile peace of the state.

 

“I therefore respectfully demand that Senator Fadahunsi retract these harmful statements and tender an apology to the peaceful people of Osun State.

 

“All political leaders, stakeholders, and party loyalists across party lines must exercise the utmost restraint, moderate their language, and recommit themselves to peace and democratic decorum.

 

“The relevant security agencies must closely monitor inflammatory statements and ensure equal protection for all citizens, election officials, and voters before, during, and after the polls.

 

“The democratic mandate belongs to the people, and no individual, regardless of status or political office, should attempt to subvert the will of the people through fear or coercion.

 

I urge the good people of Osun State to remain calm, peaceful, and resolute as they exercise their constitutional civic duty at the polls.

 

“Getting elections right is a necessary step towards a New Nigeria that is Possible.”

I never said Military should reject salary increase – Obi

 

 

Frontline Presidential Candidate for the 2027 presidential election, Mr Peter Obi has denied ever asking soldiers to reject the recent salary increase announced for them by the Federal Government.

In a statement from his media office on Tuesday, Obi described the false story as one of the attempts by political enemies to tarnish his ambition.

Obi who is the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) lamented the attempt to credit to him, things he never said.

Said the statement: “In a fruitless search for fault within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC, presidential candidate Peter Obi’s messages. His opponents now fabricate words and feed the public as if they were coming from him.

“An example of such is the circulating news that said the military personnel should reject their salary hike.

 

“Obi, explaining on his X handle, wrote, “I wish to address a recent report that falsely attributes a statement to me, suggesting that Nigerian soldiers should refuse any salary increments until after the elections. This assertion is entirely untrue.

 

“My profound respect for our security forces, particularly the Nigerian Army personnel who diligently serve and protect our nation under challenging conditions, is unwavering.

 

“I have consistently advocated for the adequate provision of equipment, motivation, and protection for our security personnel.

 

“My concern was palpable when soldiers were lost to insurgents due to a delayed rescue effort, prompting me to question how those defending us could be left vulnerable in their time of need.

 

“Should I be elected President, the well-being, resources, safety, and honour of our soldiers will be a paramount priority. Those who ensure Nigeria’s security must never be relegated to a secondary concern. Our soldiers are deserving of our utmost respect, unwavering support, and a government that will unequivocally stand by them. Under my leadership, scenarios where our servicemen and women are left unprotected in the face of peril will be eradicated.

 

“I implore the Nigerian populace to dismiss this misleading report. I remain committed to articulating a clear and consistent vision for a secure and prosperous Nigeria. The realisation of a new and secure Nigeria is indeed POSSIBLE,” the statement concluded.

 

2027 Election: Atiku raises concern over outdated BVAS

The Osun State mock-accreditation failures of August 1, 2026 and Monday’s revelation by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Director of ICT, Dr Lawrence Bayode, has exposed the inadequacies of the BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System), a critical asset in the conduct of elections in Nigeria.
Speaking on Arise TV on Monday, Bayode said that BVAS, which was first introduced into our elections in 2021, is currently running on Android  version 10.
What the INEC ICT Director did not say, however, is that the Android  version 10 is outdated as it reached end of life in 2023, meaning that it is no longer getting updates or security patches.
The ADC Presidential candidate said that running an election technology platform like BVAS on an outdated operating system poses severe cyber and operational risks.
He wonders why INEC with its humongous budget cannot update the BVAS software long before the 2027 general elections or even before the series of off season elections like the Osun State governorship election during which the updated version would have been test run.
Atiku said that the nonchalant attitude of handling the BVAS issue is suspicious and a deliberate attempt to subvert the integrity of the country’s elections.
According to him, this vulnerability could allow criminal elements or hackers to bypass the BVAS application entirely, gain root access to the device file system, and potentially alter cached voter logs or polling unit result files before they are transmitted.
He noted that since BVAS machines must necessarily transmit polling unit results over weak public telecommunication networks to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, outdated cryptographic foundations elevate the risk of Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks, where sophisticated actors could intercept, block, or manipulate data packets over the air.
The former Vice President pointed out that because BVAS handles both fingerprint and facial recognition, an outdated biometric framework (such as INEC is still using), has the potential of “reducing the system’s accuracy and resilience against spoofing methods such as fingerprint and photo bypasses.”
He expressed deep concern that “bugs or memory leaks within legacy system frameworks can cause the app to crash during peak voting hours —leading  to “technical glitches” and delayed accreditations as have been witnessed in the past.”
He supported the position of cybersecurity expnoerts that “running critical national infrastructure on an end-of-life operating system creates a broad attack surface. To safeguard election integrity, it is vital to perform an independent, comprehensive code and hardware audit of the BVAS devices.”

Suspected vandal killed as 330kV transmission tower collapses in Delta

By Okey Muogbo
A suspected vandal has been crushed to death following the collapse of a vandalised 330kV transmission tower along the Ughelli-Benin transmission line in Delta State.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in statement signed by it’s management on Saturday, said the victim was discovered on Saturday, August 8, 2026, by its linesmen during an intensive patrol of the transmission corridor.
According to TCN, the patrol was launched after the Ughelli-Benin 330kV transmission line tripped on earth fault.
The patrol team from the Delta Sub-Region, Lines Maintenance Department traced the fault to Tower 101, which had collapsed.
The body of the suspected vandal was subsequently found trapped and crushed between the collapsed tower members.
Further inspection by the TCN team revealed that Tower 101 on the adjacent Ughelli-Sapele 330kV transmission line had also been extensively vandalised, although it remained standing as of the time of the report.
TCN condemned the incident, describing the vandalism of power infrastructure as a serious threat to national assets and public safety.
The company urged host communities and members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities around electricity infrastructure to security agencies or the nearest TCN office.
It stressed that the fight against the vandalism of power infrastructure requires the collective efforts of government agencies, host communities and the general public.
The company also warned that tampering with transmission infrastructure could result in loss of lives, damage to critical national assets and prolonged power outages.
TCN urged Nigerians to see the protection of power infrastructure as a civic responsibility and called for greater community vigilance to prevent further incidents.