Former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, has stated that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan cannot legally contest the 2027 presidential election.
In an opinion article released on Thursday, Justice Salami said the 1999 Constitution, as amended, prevents any individual from occupying the office of president for more than eight years.
He explained that Jonathan, having completed the tenure of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua before serving a full term of his own, is constitutionally ineligible to seek the position again.
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Salami said any attempt by the former president to return to office would amount to a breach of the law, stressing that such a victory would not withstand judicial scrutiny.
“It is painstakingly and dispassionately demonstrated abundantly to all and sundry that ambition of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to contest for the office of the president for the second term in the 2027 general election is effectively and undoubtedly shot down,” Salami said.
He further warned that a court challenge would inevitably nullify any mandate Jonathan might secure, as the constitutional provisions on presidential tenure are explicit and binding.
The former Appeal Court President’s interpretation aligns with previous legal opinions asserting that Jonathan’s earlier assumption of office under Yar’Adua’s unexpired mandate counts as one full term, thereby disqualifying him from future presidential contests.