The Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from participating in the 2027 presidential election
In a suit filed on Monday, a legal practitioner, Mr. Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi urged the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination as a presidential candidate.
The plaintiff also sought an order barring the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a candidate in the forthcoming election.
The former president was named as the first defendant in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, while INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation were listed as the second and third defendants, respectively.
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The case revolves around the interpretation of Sections 1(1)-(3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. The plaintiff is asking the court to determine whether Jonathan remains constitutionally eligible to contest for president after previously completing the unexpired term of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and serving a full term following his 2011 election victory.
Jideobi argued that Jonathan has already exhausted the two terms allowed by the Constitution and that any attempt to contest again would violate the law.
In his affidavit, deposed to by one Emmanuel Agida, the plaintiff described himself as an advocate of constitutionalism and the rule of law.
He said he filed the suit to prevent what he described as a potential breach of the Constitution should any political party field Jonathan in 2027.
He maintained that if Jonathan were allowed to contest and win the 2027 election, it would amount to taking the oath of office as president for a third time, which he said the Constitution does not permit.
The plaintiff further stated that he instituted the suit in the public interest to uphold constitutional order and the rule of law.
The court has yet to fix a date for the hearing of the case
