The All Progressives Congress has challenged the need for a Federal High Court order allowing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and another plaintiff to serve court processes on President Bola Tinubu through the party.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, the APC said it became aware of the September 16 order through media reports and had not been served with an enrolled copy of the order.
The party said it respects the authority of the courts and all valid orders, but argued that substituted service through the APC was unnecessary because Tinubu had already engaged legal counsel in the case.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, was filed by Atiku and the African Democratic Congress against Tinubu, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The plaintiffs are challenging Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election, with allegations relating to a National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate submitted to the electoral commission. The allegations are contested by Tinubu and the APC.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, had on September 16 granted an application for substituted service, directing that the court processes be served on Tinubu through the APC within seven days.
However, the APC said Tinubu’s counsel had already served the plaintiffs’ lawyers with a preliminary objection and defence on September 14 and 15 respectively, with the plaintiffs’ counsel acknowledging receipt.
The party further said its attention was drawn to the fact that the plaintiffs’ counsel moved the application for substituted service on September 16 without bringing those developments to the attention of the court.
The APC maintained that it does not have Tinubu’s consent or authority to receive court processes on his behalf, noting that the president has appointed lawyers to represent him in the matter.
It said both the party and Tinubu have filed their respective defences and are ready to proceed with the case.
The matter is scheduled for further mention on September 28.
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