Olushola Omogbehin
The Federal High Court in Abuja has declared former President Goodluck Jonathan eligible to participate in the 2027 presidential election.
The case which was brought before the court by Johnmary Jideobi, asked for order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, the presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, declared that Jonathan could contest 2027 election.
Jideobi asked the court to determine whether, having regard to Sections 1(1), (2), (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan is eligible to seek the office of president again.
In the suit lebelled FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, Jideobi maintained that Jonathan was no longer eligible to run for the office of president because he had been sworn in as president on two occasions.
In a supporting argument by one Emmanuel Agida, the plaintiff argued that if ex-President Jonathan wins the 2027 presidential election that will run from 2027 to 2031, he would have exceeded eight years, being the cumulative maximum years a Nigerian president is statutorily permitted to stay in office.
He said, “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.
“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.
“In the event the 1st defendant is returned as elected and sworn in as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2027, it will mark the third time the 1st defendant will be taking the oath of office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he added.
The court awarded a N20 million fine against Jideobi in favour of Jonathan and N1 million fine against the plaintiff in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
According to Justice Lifu, Jideobi does not have the legal right to institute the suit, having not suffered any loss from Jonathan’s perceived intention to vie for the 2027 election.
Describing Jideobi’s suit as an abuse of judicial process, the judge said he was bound by the ruling of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa and a Court of Appeal that had already held that Jonathan can contest.
Though, the Peoples Democratic Party offered waiver to Jonathan last week as the party’s sole presidential candidate, many Nigerians are still waiting anxiously to hear him officially declare his interest to contest.
