The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has written to the Federal High Court in Abuja, rejecting an order granted to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to serve court processes on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the party’s national secretariat.

In a formal letter addressed to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court and targeted at Court 6, presided over by Hon. Justice I.E. Ekwo, the ruling party described the ex parte application for substituted service as unnecessary and misleading, revealing that President Tinubu’s legal team had already filed and served his defence on Atiku’s counsel before the order was moved.

The letter, dated September 22, 2026, and signed by the APC National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru (Ph.D.), cautioned the court against allowing its processes to be abusively employed for media propaganda and public harassment.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, Atiku Abubakar and his co-plaintiff instituted an action against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants, respectively.

Clarifying the sequence of events, Basiru noted that after becoming aware of the suit through the media, President Tinubu promptly briefed a legal team led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, to defend his interests.

The APC stated that when the matter was listed on September 1, 2026, President Tinubu’s counsel, Mr. Omosanya Popoola, SAN, appeared in court and expressed readiness to accept service of the court processes on behalf of the President, but Atiku’s legal counsel objected to the request.

“On the further instruction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, his lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, formally wrote the Court on 10th September, 2026, to the effect that the first Defendant has instructed him/his legal team to collect the originating processes filed by the Plaintiffs on his behalf, and also obtain Certified True Copies of same,” the APC revealed in the letter.

According to the party, the President’s legal team formally obtained and paid for Certified True Copies on September 11, 2026, after which they filed a Preliminary Objection on September 14 and a comprehensive defence alongside a written address on September 15.

“Both the Preliminary Objection and the defence filed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR’s counsel were served on the Plaintiffs’ counsel on 14th and 15th September, 2026 respectively, and his office duly acknowledged receipt of service,” Basiru stated.

The ruling party expressed concern that despite these steps, counsel representing Atiku went ahead on September 16, 2026, to move an ex parte application for substituted service through the APC without disclosing to Justice Ekwo that the President had already served his defence.

The party further emphasized that it lacks the legal mandate to receive court processes on behalf of the President.

“In addition, the APC does not have the consent or authority of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to receive any processes in this matter on his behalf, as he has engaged the services of counsel of his choice to represent him in the matter. This fact is known to the Plaintiffs’ counsel,” the letter read.

Maintaining its commitment to the rule of law, the APC concluded that the ex parte order was superfluous, confirming that both the party and President Tinubu have filed their respective defences and are fully prepared to prosecute the case when it comes up for mention. (The Nation)