Lawyer Asks Court  To Stop Jonathan From Contesting 2027 Presidential Election

Former President Godluck Jonathan’s rumoured ambition to return as commander-in-chief of Nigeria has become a subject of constitutional jurisprudence even before he officially declared his intention to contest the 2027 Presidential election.

In a suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/ 2025,  Barrister Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi has asked the Federal High Court Abuja to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Mr. Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party in the country for the purpose of contesting the 2027 presidential election.

Jideobi also asked the court to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from accepting from any political party, Jonathan’s name or publishing same as a duly nominated candidate for the presidential contest.

Having being sworn in as president twice, a school of thought holds the view that the former president is constitutionally barred from seeking the highest office again.

In an affidavit of facts that was deposed in support of the suit by one Emmanuel Agida, the plaintiff claimed that he is an advocate of constitutionalism and the rule of law.

He averred that if the 1st defendant, Jonathan, wins the 2027 presidential election, which is for a term of 4 years spanning 2027 to 2031, he would have exceeded 8 years being the cumulative maximum years a Nigerian President is statutorily permitted to stay in office.

Jonathan was cited as the 1st defendant in the matter, while INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation, were listed as 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.

Barrister Jideobi principally wants the court to determine:

“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?”

Upon the determination of the question, the plaintiff, sought four principal reliefs, to wit:

“A declaration of this Honourable Court that upon an intimate reading and complete understanding of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended the first Defendant [GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN] is ineligible to stand for or occupy the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“A declaration of this Honorable Court that in view of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended 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.

“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.

“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.”

As well as, “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.”

The suit was filed on Monday and no date has been fixed for hearing.

Recall that recently, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof Jerry Gana had confirmed that Jonathan will run for president in 2027 under the PDP platform.

The former President, as at the time of filing this report, had yet to say anything to the contrary.