Olushola Omogbehin
Following calls for former president Goodluck Jonathan to contest for the president of Nigeria in 2027, the Federal High Court in Abuja is set to hear a suit today (Friday 8th of May) seeking to bar him from contesting the 2027 presidential election on the grounds that he has allegedly exceeded the constitutional limit for holding the office of President.
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025 and filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, is asking the court to declare Jonathan ineligible to run again and to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from publishing his name as a candidate in the forthcoming election.
Justice Peter Lifu, on April 28, ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants after they failed to file responses to the suit.
In the originating summons, according to report by Punch, the plaintiff asked the court to determine “whether in view of the combined provisions of sections 1(1), (2) and (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, the 1st defendant is eligible, under any circumstances whatsoever, to contest for the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Jideobi argued that Jonathan had already exhausted the constitutional limit of two terms, having completed the tenure of late President Umaru Yar’Adua before serving another full term after winning the 2011 presidential election.
In an affidavit deposed to by Emmanuel Agida in support of the suit, the plaintiff stated that Jonathan was sworn in as president on May 6, 2010, following Yar’Adua’s death on May 5, 2010.
The affidavit added that reports suggesting Jonathan may contest the 2027 election informed the decision to approach the court.
“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,” the affidavit partly read.
Arguing further, the plaintiff said if Jonathan contests and wins the 2027 election, he would be taking the presidential oath of office for the third time, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution.
