JUST IN: Legal Battle Brews As Court Asked To Disqualify Jonathan From 2027 Election

…Suit challenges ex-president’s eligibility based on constitutional limits

A new suit has been filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja asking the judiciary to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting in the 2027 presidential election.

The legal action, instituted by Mr. Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, seeks an order of perpetual injunction to restrain Jonathan from putting himself forward to any political party in Nigeria for nomination as a presidential candidate.

The plaintiff is also asking the court to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from receiving or publishing Jonathan’s name as a candidate for the 2027 polls.

ALSO READ: Don’t Contest 2027, Tinubu Will Defeat You Again – Jandor to Jonathan

In the case numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, Jonathan is listed as the first defendant, while INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) are the second and third defendants, respectively.

The suit poses a single legal question for interpretation:

“Whether in view of the combined provisions of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and their conflated interpretation, the 1st Defendant is eligible, under any circumstances [whatsoever] to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”

Based on this, the applicant requested four major reliefs. Among them is a declaration that upon a thorough reading and understanding of the cited constitutional provisions, “the first Defendant [GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN] is ineligible to stand for or occupy the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The suit also seeks a declaration that “the 2nd Defendant [the INEC] lacks the constitutional power to receive from any political party the name of the first defendant or publish same as the candidate of any political party for the election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria holding in 2027 and other years to come.”

Furthermore, the plaintiff is asking for “an order of perpetual injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the first Defendant [Goodluck Ebele Jonathan] from presenting himself to any political party in Nigeria for nomination as its candidate for the general election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria holding in 2027 and other years to come.”

He also urged the court to grant “an order of perpetual injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the 2nd Defendant [INEC] from either accepting from any political party in Nigeria the name of the 1st Defendant [Goodluck Ebele Jonathan] or publishing same as a candidate for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria holding in 2027 and other years to come.”

The applicant further requested “an order of this Honourable Court directing the 3rd Defendant [Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation] to ensure compliance with the decisions and Orders of this court.”

In a supporting affidavit sworn to by Mr. Emmanuel Agida, the plaintiff described himself as an advocate of constitutionalism and the rule of law, stating that his interest was to uphold the sanctity of Nigeria’s Constitution.

He maintained that if Jonathan were to contest and win the 2027 presidential election — which would run for another four years — he would have “exceeded 8 years being the cumulative maximum years a Nigerian President is statutorily permitted to stay in office.”

The suit, which questions the former president’s eligibility under Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), is expected to once again test the constitutional interpretation surrounding presidential term limits in Nigeria.