The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a subpoena directing the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, to produce electoral documents relating to President Bola Tinubu’s governorship candidacy in 1999 and his presidential bid in 2023.
The subpoena was issued in connection with the ongoing criminal trial of human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over his description of Tinubu as a criminal.
Sowore disclosed the development in a Facebook post, where he shared copies of the subpoena and a hearing notice served on the INEC chairman.
The court document, titled Subpoena Duces Tecum, requires Amupitan to produce two sets of electoral documents submitted by Tinubu to INEC.
They include the Form CF01 submitted by Tinubu for the 1999 Lagos State governorship election, alongside an affidavit concerning lost certificates, and the Form CF01 submitted for the 2023 presidential election.
The subpoena, issued in Charge No. FHC/CR/484/2025, directs the INEC chairman to appear before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, Courtroom 5, at 9am on October 26, 2026.
It further requires him to remain in attendance until the matter is determined, produce the specified documents and testify on behalf of Sowore, who is the defendant in the case.
The subpoena identifies Justice Mohammed Garba Umar as the presiding judge. It was dated October 26, 2026, while a separate application seeking its issuance was dated October 23, 2026.
The criminal case was instituted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria against Sowore over his remarks about Tinubu.
By seeking the documents, Sowore is asking the court to compel INEC to produce records of the information and declarations Tinubu submitted to the commission in connection with the two elections.
The documents sought are the 1999 governorship Form CF01 and the accompanying affidavit concerning lost certificates, as well as the 2023 presidential election Form CF01.
