Former President Goodluck Jonathan has moved to challenge a lawsuit seeking to prevent him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
His legal team, led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, made the application on Friday before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja when the matter was called for hearing.
Uche told the court that several processes had already been filed on May 5, including a conditional appearance, a preliminary objection, a counter-affidavit, and a written address, all asking the court to dismiss the suit.
He explained that Jonathan’s legal team first became aware of the case through media reports, which prompted what he described as urgent filings given the potential impact on the former president’s political future.
The senior advocate also faulted the action, noting that it was surprising for a legal practitioner to institute the suit, especially as he argued that the issues raised had previously been determined by the Federal High Court and affirmed by the Court of Appeal.
At the hearing, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that although the case was listed for mention, he had only just been served with Jonathan’s court papers and needed time to respond adequately.
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Following submissions from both sides, Justice Lifu adjourned the case until May 11 at 2 p.m. for hearing of the preliminary objection and the main suit.
The court also ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation, who are listed as second and third defendants but were not present in court.
The suit was filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi and is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025. Dated October 6, 2025, it seeks to stop Jonathan from participating in the 2027 general election.
Jideobi is asking the court for an order permanently restraining the former president from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate for the election.
He is also urging the court to prevent INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a validly nominated candidate under any political platform.
Jonathan is named as the first defendant in the case, while INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation are joined as second and third defendants respectively.