The Federal High Court in Abuja will on Friday, May 8, hear a case challenging the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The matter is before Justice Peter Lifu, who on April 28 ordered that hearing notices be served on all defendants after they failed to respond within the stipulated time.
The suit was filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court to declare Jonathan constitutionally disqualified from seeking the office of president again.
He is also seeking an order stopping Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a presidential candidate, as well as restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing his name in connection with the 2027 election.
In the originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, Jonathan is listed as the first defendant, while INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation are joined as second and third defendants respectively.
The plaintiff wants the court to interpret provisions of the 1999 Constitution, particularly sections 1(1), (2), (3) and 137(3), to determine whether Jonathan is still eligible to contest for president under any circumstance.
Jideobi argued that Jonathan has already served the maximum allowed tenure, having first assumed office in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, before completing a full term after winning the 2011 election.
Supporting the suit, an affidavit deposed by Emmanuel Agida stated that Jonathan was sworn in as president on May 6, 2010, after Yar’Adua’s passing.
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It further noted that recent reports suggesting Jonathan may contest in 2027 prompted the legal action.
The affidavit warned that allowing his participation could lead to a constitutional breach.
It stated: “That the plaintiff believes that the 1st defendant, having completed the unexpired term of late President Yar’Adua and subsequently served a full term after the 2011 election, has exhausted the constitutional limit of two tenures as president.”
It also cautioned that failure to intervene could result in a party fielding Jonathan unlawfully.
“That if the court does not intervene timeously, a political party may present the 1st defendant as its presidential candidate in the 2027 general election, thereby breaching the constitution.”
The document further argued that a possible victory would amount to Jonathan taking the presidential oath for a third time.
“In the event the 1st defendant is returned as elected and sworn as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2027, it will mark the 3rd time the 1st defendant will be taking the oath of office as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” it stated.
The plaintiff said the suit was filed in defence of the Constitution and to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic system.